Russia-Ukraine crisis: Fears for 7.5 million children caught on the front line of Ukraine conflict

More than seven million Ukrainian children will be the conflict’s “biggest victims”, as aid agencies warn they will suffer mental and psychological distress.

Millions of terrified Ukrainian children are at risk of suffering serious psychological harm as they are forced to flee their homes in freezing temperatures as shells explode around them.

International aid agency Save The Children has warned the fear and chaos sparked by Russia’s invasion has not only put the lives of 7.5 million children in danger but could cause long-term trauma.

As explosions were heard in the capital Kyiv and other major cities including Kharkiv, families and children fled into basements and bomb shelters for protection.

Thousands of others chose to flee the capital by car, despite temperatures dropping below zero, and displaced children now face long days and nights exposed to brutal conditions.

A child is carried down the steps in her stroller as hundreds of people seek shelter underground, on the platform, inside the dark train cars, and even in the emergency exits, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Picture: Marcus Yam

Save the Children’s Eastern Europe director Irina Saghoyan said the use of explosive weapons in populated areas “should be avoided at all costs”.

“Ukraine’s children are caught in the crossfire of this adult war. It should never have come to this,” she said.

“Our most immediate concern is the risk to their health and wellbeing – in conflict, everything is on the table – death, injury, sexual violence, protection risks. Children are terrified.

“They are hearing explosions, they are being asked to flee with just the clothes on their backs. The risk to their mental health and potential for long-term trauma cannot be underestimated.”

Ukrainian families desperate to escape the rain of shells from Russian troops also face a hidden enemy.

Eastern Ukraine is one of the most mine-contaminated regions in the world and children on the move will be at risk of losing limbs from landmines and explosive devices.

Almost 70 per cent of civilian casualties since the July 2020 ceasefire have been caused by concealed bombs.

Families entering Romania, after having crossed from Ukraine. Picture: Andreea Campeanu

A recent count adds 100,000 eastern Ukrainian residents – including 40,000 children – to the 854,000 people estimated to have been displaced across the country since the start of the conflict in 2014.

World Vision Australia chief executive officer Daniel Wordsworth said they’re preparing to assist children affected by the crisis.

Families in Kyiv are seeking shelter anywhere they can find. Picture: Daniel Leal

“The world is sick and tired of brutes and bullies ruling the world and leading to situations like this. It is heartbreaking that countless children will bear the brunt of this conflict, forced from their homes and schools as they flee in search of safety,” he said.

“The consequences for children affected by this conflict escalation are a huge concern to us. The focus here needs to be directed to protecting those most vulnerable to the escalation of this crisis – children.”

Save the Children is urgently calling on all parties to the conflict to agree to an immediate end of hostilities.

“We are also gravely concerned about displacement and the subsequent soaring humanitarian needs. We are also at the end of winter, with temperatures regularly below zero,” Ms Saghoyan said.

“The thought that many of these children may be forced to find inadequate shelters in the instance of mass displacement, where they’ll be exposed to the freezing rain, wind and snow, is incredibly distressing.”

Originally published as Russia-Ukraine crisis: Fears for 7.5 million children caught on the front line of Ukraine conflict