Wounded Ukrainian Soldier Warns Of Prolonged Conflict

Oleksandr Yabchanka stands among the crowds in Lviv on October 1. The 42-year-old pediatrician and former Health Ministry adviser is concerned that Ukrainians may be burying their heads in the sand over the war with Russia.

"Guys, sooner or later (the war) will catch up with you," said Yabchanka, who was back home in western Ukraine waiting for his wounded leg to heal before returning to his unit.

While Russian and Ukrainian soldiers are killing one another on the front lines, everyday life still seems to be carrying on as usual in Lviv's cafes as well as in other parts of Ukraine. The coffee dates and cocktail gatherings provide some relief from infrequent air strikes and reports of civilian losses.

People dance at an open-air party in Kyiv on September 29. Nightlife in Kyiv is limited due to air strikes and a daily curfew at 11 p.m.

 

Soldiers like Yabchanka are concerned that, despite a broad sense of unity among Ukrainians, some may not fully grasp the reality that this conflict may endure for years and demand a significantly larger number of fighters.

Young military cadets pose for a picture in Kyiv.

Ukrainians often dismiss Russian troops as incompetent after battlefield failures in 2022 and the recruitment of thousands of convicts to fill their ranks. Yet Kyiv's much-vaunted summer counteroffensive has made only incremental gains amid signs Russian forces are now more effective and losses are mounting on both sides.

People enjoy a summer night at outdoor cafes in Lviv, where a common topic of discussion revolves around their personal plans "after the victory."

 

Men between the ages of 18 and 60 are generally barred from leaving the country, but most have not been called up so far.

Battle-hardened veterans have expressed concern in local media about how Ukraine's long-term resilience might be affected by what they describe as a rose-tinted view of the war and a sense of impatience fueled by some public figures and journalists.



 

Ukrainian and EU flags fly in central Kyiv as the city hosts an EU-Ukraine foreign ministers meeting on October 2.

Many Ukrainians not directly engaged in the war still actively support the cause. Around 68 percent help the army or people affected by the war by volunteering or donating, according to the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, up from 61 percent in December.

Another survey by the Rating Group polling organization found that roughly the same amount reported that a family member or friend had either fought or is currently fighting in the conflict.

With public morale remaining high as Ukrainians hail their troops as heroes, Yabchanka -- who sports a Cossack-style mustache and hairstyle -- said those who are close to someone fighting tend to be more realistic. He worries that many military-aged men would not be prepared for the reality of fierce close combat and heavy artillery fire if they were to be called up.



 

A woman reacts at a makeshift memorial with the names of fallen soldiers on Ukrainian flags at Independence Square in Kyiv on September 26.

"This is someone's husband, someone's son, someone's father," Yabchanka said. "It's a Ukrainian over whom it will be painful for me when, God forbid, he's killed."