Nighttime Struggles in Ukraine

In Ukraine, the nighttime brings a different kind of challenge. Many people struggle to get a good night's sleep. This is not just about comfort or routine. It is about survival. The war has made nights in Ukraine a time of fear and anxiety. The country's second-largest city, Kharkiv, often looks like a ghost town after dark. Streetlights are turned off to make it harder for Russian forces to target the city. Power plants have been destroyed, and many people have left their homes, seeking safety elsewhere. Sleep is a basic need, but it has become a luxury for many Ukrainians. Psychologist Yuliia Krat sees this firsthand. She works with East SOS, a nonprofit that helps people affected by the war. Krat often treats patients with sleep issues and depression. She advises them to avoid distractions, but this is easier said than done. Russian attacks often happen at night, shattering the peace and disrupting sleep. For some, the fear of nighttime attacks is so overwhelming that they leave their homes to find a place to rest. Arkadii and Hanna Rubin, along with their two-year-old daughter Leya, had to do this after their neighborhood was hit by strikes. They drove to a hotel in the woods of Poltava, hoping to find some peace. Even there, the fear of war lingers, making it hard to sleep soundly.

Firefighters like Volodymyr Lohinov experience the war's impact on sleep in a different way. They often go days without proper rest, responding to attacks and trying to save lives. Lohinov's father, also a firefighter, was killed during a nighttime attack. This tragedy highlights the dangers and sacrifices made by those on the front lines. Children are not immune to the war's effects. Hanna and Arkadii Rubin try to shield their daughter Leya from the stress of nighttime attacks. They tell her the sounds of war are thunderstorms or delivery trucks. In reality, the streets of Kharkiv are quiet at night, with a curfew enforced by the police. The darkness and silence are a stark contrast to the fear and anxiety that fill the nights. Healing from the trauma of nighttime attacks takes time. Psychologist Krat notes that many people struggle to accept the silence, fearing that it means another attack is coming. They need to learn that quiet can mean safety and the chance to rest. This is a challenging journey, but it is essential for their well-being.

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