"Everything changed in the first days of the war," said Angelina, 26, a political science student, recalling watching her brother leave to defend the southeastern city of Mariupol. At first she was told he had been killed, and then that he had been taken prisoner by Russia. In any case, she hasn't heard from him in four years. "I'm not even sure he's still alive," she confided in a trembling voice. Having once dreamed of being surrounded by "a big family", she now takes care of her nephew, Kyrylas, 11.
Oleksandr, a 28-year-old photographer, was living in Izmail, in the Odesa region, and developing his own clothing brand when the war broke out. Back then he dreamed of professional success, starting a family, and building his own home. Now he is serving in the Ukrainian armed forces.
Bohdan, on the other hand, feels content with his lot. He had hoped to work in tech and is now, at 24, a product manager in that field – the only one, he said, that “allows you to earn a decent living in Ukraine right now". These are fairly standard goals for this Kyiv resident, who never imagined that the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, might come to pass.
Sofiia, the youngest of the group, is 18. A student in Kyiv, originally from Ternopil in western Ukraine, she had planned to become a lawyer in her home country. But the war prompted a change of tack. "Today, I'm thinking more about becoming an international lawyer. I want to draw more attention to the situation in Ukraine, to Russia's crimes against Ukraine," she stated confidently.
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'Keep moving forward'
The war in Ukraine has sparked a strong sense of commitment among these young people. Angelina identifies as a Crimean Tatar – an identity that she proudly claims as she aspires to become a human rights lawyer for this minority. "My family has been deported twice: my brother is currently in Siberia, and my grandmother was also in Siberia 65 years ago," she said, her voice filled with emotion, explaining that she wants to "break this cycle".
Bohdan, who is also studying film, offered an artistic perspective on the situation. “All these fears, all these hard times, they create these unique experiences from which we can produce really great art,” he said. It's a statement that resonates particularly with his own future: at 25, he will be drafted. “I’m afraid of dying,” he said with a nervous laugh. He tries to be optimistic, but remains realistic: “Sometimes I wonder, ‘If I go to the battlefield, will it add anything to my experience?’ But it’s still really scary.”
Oleksandr, for his part, keeps his eyes fixed on the future and the end of the war. “It’s precisely my dreams and goals that have motivated me, that have given me the energy and faith to keep moving forward,” he claimed, still clinging to his cat, the mascot of his TikTok account.
One thing is certain: neither of them sees relations with Russia returning to normal. “It’s dangerous for Ukraine,” Bohdan said.
“I see many people being more friendly towards Russia, as if it weren’t an aggressor,” added Sofiia, who "doesn't understand" this choice. She dreams of a “completely independent” Ukraine in which "Ukrainian identity" would finally be understood and embraced.
“Our relationship with Russia will never be the same again,” concluded Oleksandr, because “Russia has hurt us too much.”
'We want to live now'
Despite their hardship, they all envision the future in a positive light and plan to stay in Ukraine. "I love my country, and I would really like to live, work, and build my future here," said Sofiia, like the rest of the young Ukrainians who are "used to this situation".
Bohdan echoed this sentiment: "My country isn't perfect, Ukrainians aren't perfect, but I love them," he explained.
"Ukrainians are a very optimistic people. We have always believed – and we will continue to believe – that only a bright future awaits us," added Oleksandr. While the soldier hopes the war will be over "within a year", Bohdan is more reserved and pragmatic. He believes that peace within a year is unlikely and that peace "within ten years" is far more plausible.
He also believes Ukrainian territory will be conceded to Russia, as he thinks it "unlikely" that Kyiv will recover land captured by Moscow.
But he also envisions a Ukraine that is "more united" by the experience of war. "When the war started, it was like this big explosion of empathy," he recalled. "People started to care about each other. I hope this empathy will stay with us."
They believe young people will play a leading role in Ukraine's future. "Teenagers are the only future we have, because they are more sensitive and sometimes take the situation more seriously" than their elders, Sofiia observed. Younger people are "more politically engaged" and "always have an opinion on everything, which is a good thing", she said with a smile.
Rebuilding Ukraine is not just about the reconstruction of infrastructure and buildings, but it is also a human question of hope and faith. "I see young people who spend their nights packing humanitarian aid and then going to university in the morning," Angelina explained. "I truly believe we can rebuild our country, especially thanks to the younger generation. Not just the buildings, but also the institutions and our faith in the future," she declared. "We're not waiting for anything. We want to live now," she said.
This article was adapted from the original in French.
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