Ukraine's Army Struggles with Mental Effects of Combat
2023-12-25
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1Mental health expert Oleh Hukovskyi recently stood in a temporary classroom in eastern Ukraine speaking to a group of soldiers.
2They were attending a class on how to deal with the stress of war.
3Hukovskyi is one of hundreds of professionals and volunteers across Ukraine treating soldiers for mental health problems.
4It is a growing issue for an army facing fatigue as soldiers fight a larger enemy.
5Reuters news agency spoke to 13 people involved in supporting troops and four soldiers undergoing treatment.
6The treatment can last for a few days to several weeks in more serious cases.
7It also includes soldiers who have lost arms or legs and who are learning to live with their injuries.
8Soldiers spoke of stress, anxiety, fear, guilt and being extremely tired.
9But they also spoke of friendship, a sense of obligation to hurry back to their units and a strong desire to repel the enemy.
10Hukovskyi is one of the soldiers Reuters spoke to.
11He is a former psychiatrist.
12He joined the armed forces about six months after Russia launched an invasion in February 2022.
13Now, he runs a mental health support group attached to the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
14The brigade is in the area of Lyman, a town heavily damaged by the war.
15"They have obligations and have to return to the front line," Hukovskyi said of the troops.
16Some of the soldiers are being treated for light wounds and battle stress at a medical aid center.
17Hukovskyi said Ukrainian soldiers were not given enough breaks from fighting.
18"Forty-five days is a critical period when soldiers can stay and...have a chance to stay mentally healthy," he said.
19He added that in some situations they might remain in battle longer. When that happens, they experience more head injuries and more battle fatigue.
20Many of those fighting joined as volunteers.
21They had little, if any, preparation for sometimes fierce combat conditions.
22The soldiers attending the class answer questions and suggestions. However, Hukovskyi knows there are limitations.
23Soon, the soldiers will have to return to fighting.
24"Ukraine has an army of mobilized citizens who just yesterday were teachers, artists, poets, IT specialists, or workers," said Dana Vynohradova.
25He is deputy brigade commander for mental health support.
26"DJ" attended Hukovskyi's class last month.
27Before the war, he was a factory worker from central Ukraine. Like most other soldiers, he goes by his call sign, DJ.
28"I have nightmares and they exhaust me. When I get some time to rest, I don't sleep at all," DJ told the group.
29Later, the 50-year-old explained that he was not prepared for the fierce combat.
30DJ said his position near the front line was under continuous attack by Russian forces.
31Like others, he said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a concussion.
32On a rainy November day in a nearby village, Dmytro, a 24-year-old soldier, talks with his unit's stress control group leader.
33He is a man named Serhii Rostikov.
34The Russians occupied the village in 2022.
35The two men walk and talk among damaged houses.
36Rostikov said soldiers decide for themselves whether to seek mental health support.
37However, other specialists said unit commanders could make recommendations if they see signs for concern.
38"After the artillery shelling, I developed a fear of going back to (combat) positions," said Dmytro.
39He is with the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade.
40He told Reuters that he reached out to his former group leader Rostikov for help.
41After working together, Rostikov sent Dmytro to rehabilitation.
42Dmytro said, "...I have no fear now and can easily go back to a combat position. I think we need psychologists, because soldiers suffer from a lot of stress."
43Many soldiers who seek psychological support return to battle after short breaks.
44Some more serious cases are sent away from the front for more treatment.
45DJ later said he had been kept away from combat for further treatment.
46Dmytro has rejoined his unit.
47The Ukrainian military has tried to recruit more people for psychological support.
48Ukraine's armed forces declined to answer questions about efforts to get support workers.
49It also did not release how many soldiers had been treated for psychological conditions since the start of the invasion.
50Such details are often treated as military secrets.
51I'm Anna Matteo.
52And I'm Mario Ritter.
1Mental health expert Oleh Hukovskyi recently stood in a temporary classroom in eastern Ukraine speaking to a group of soldiers. They were attending a class on how to deal with the stress of war. 2Hukovskyi is one of hundreds of professionals and volunteers across Ukraine treating soldiers for mental health problems. It is a growing issue for an army facing fatigue as soldiers fight a larger enemy. 3Reuters news agency spoke to 13 people involved in supporting troops and four soldiers undergoing treatment. The treatment can last for a few days to several weeks in more serious cases. It also includes soldiers who have lost arms or legs and who are learning to live with their injuries. 4Soldiers spoke of stress, anxiety, fear, guilt and being extremely tired. But they also spoke of friendship, a sense of obligation to hurry back to their units and a strong desire to repel the enemy. 5Hukovskyi is one of the soldiers Reuters spoke to. He is a former psychiatrist. He joined the armed forces about six months after Russia launched an invasion in February 2022. 6Now, he runs a mental health support group attached to the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade. The brigade is in the area of Lyman, a town heavily damaged by the war. 7"They have obligations and have to return to the front line," Hukovskyi said of the troops. 8Some of the soldiers are being treated for light wounds and battle stress at a medical aid center. 9Hukovskyi said Ukrainian soldiers were not given enough breaks from fighting. 10"Forty-five days is a critical period when soldiers can stay and...have a chance to stay mentally healthy," he said. He added that in some situations they might remain in battle longer. When that happens, they experience more head injuries and more battle fatigue. 11Citizen soldiers 12Many of those fighting joined as volunteers. They had little, if any, preparation for sometimes fierce combat conditions. 13The soldiers attending the class answer questions and suggestions. However, Hukovskyi knows there are limitations. Soon, the soldiers will have to return to fighting. 14"Ukraine has an army of mobilized citizens who just yesterday were teachers, artists, poets, IT specialists, or workers," said Dana Vynohradova. He is deputy brigade commander for mental health support. 15Nightmares and fear 16"DJ" attended Hukovskyi's class last month. Before the war, he was a factory worker from central Ukraine. Like most other soldiers, he goes by his call sign, DJ. 17"I have nightmares and they exhaust me. When I get some time to rest, I don't sleep at all," DJ told the group. Later, the 50-year-old explained that he was not prepared for the fierce combat. 18DJ said his position near the front line was under continuous attack by Russian forces. Like others, he said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a concussion. 19On a rainy November day in a nearby village, Dmytro, a 24-year-old soldier, talks with his unit's stress control group leader. He is a man named Serhii Rostikov. The Russians occupied the village in 2022. The two men walk and talk among damaged houses. 20Rostikov said soldiers decide for themselves whether to seek mental health support. However, other specialists said unit commanders could make recommendations if they see signs for concern. 21"After the artillery shelling, I developed a fear of going back to (combat) positions," said Dmytro. He is with the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade. 22He told Reuters that he reached out to his former group leader Rostikov for help. After working together, Rostikov sent Dmytro to rehabilitation. Dmytro said, "...I have no fear now and can easily go back to a combat position. I think we need psychologists, because soldiers suffer from a lot of stress." 23Many soldiers who seek psychological support return to battle after short breaks. Some more serious cases are sent away from the front for more treatment. 24DJ later said he had been kept away from combat for further treatment. Dmytro has rejoined his unit. 25The Ukrainian military has tried to recruit more people for psychological support. 26Ukraine's armed forces declined to answer questions about efforts to get support workers. It also did not release how many soldiers had been treated for psychological conditions since the start of the invasion. Such details are often treated as military secrets. 27I'm Anna Matteo. 28And I'm Mario Ritter. 29Charlotte Bruneau reported this story for Reuters with additional reporting by Sofiia Gatilova and Stefaniia. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. 30_______________________________________________ 31Words in This Story 32stress -n. a state of mental tension 33fatigue -n. a condition of being very tired 34anxiety -n. fear or worry about something 35obligation -n. the feeling of having a responsibility to do something 36psychiatrist -n. a medical doctor who deals with mental health 37critical -adj. very important 38mobilize -v. (military) to organize and use people and resources for war 39call sign -n. a set of letters or numbers that is used to identify a person on radio or for special purposes 40nightmare -n. a frightening dream 41concussion -n. an injury that results from a blow to the head 42rehabilitation -n. treatment for an injury that is physical or mental that aims to return the patient back to normal life 43psychologist -n. a health worker who deals with mental health but is not a doctor and cannot order the use of medication