THE PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL LANDSCAPE OF WAR: FEATURES OF UKRAINIANS’ REACTIONS AND WAYS OF HEALING

Abstract

The article explores the psycho-emotional landscape of Ukrainian society under the conditions of the fullscale war. The author analyzes specific reactions of Ukrainians to traumatic events through the lens of classical models of grief and crisis (E. Kübler-Ross, W. Hoppe) as well as the concept of post-traumatic growth (R. Tedeschi, L. Calhoun). Three main types of responses are distinguished: the “Sensitive” (emotionally vulnerable individuals in need of support and verbalization), the “Rebels” (frustrated, angry, with strong feelings of injustice), and the “Awakened” (those who have gone through transformation and achieved post-traumatic growth). It is emphasized that these types are not fixed identities but dynamic phases of adaptation. The study highlights Ukrainian cultural features such as solidarity, horizontal social structures, compassion, and historically rooted resilience as key resources enabling both survival and transformation of collective trauma into a source of unity and growth. Practical strategies for healing are proposed: acknowledgment of trauma, creation of safe spaces for storytelling and sharing, strengthening of grassroots mutual support practices, and democratization of post-traumatic growth processes. The article underlines the humanistic potential of the Ukrainian experience: the ability to preserve humanity in times of crisis, to form a renewed national identity, and to create a vision of the future based on solidarity and empathy. The research opens perspectives for further empirical studies aimed at quantitative identification of the described response types and their dynamics over time.