Psychological rehabilitation of combatants in Ukraine from 2014 to 2021: statistics and current status

Military action in eastern Ukraine [Anti-terrorist Operation (ATO)] has a significant impact on the psyche of combat participants and causes changes in the life activities and behaviour of the individuals concerned. The traumatic experience gained during hostilities has a negative impact on the health of military personnel. According to psychiatrists’ forecasts, in the best-case scenario, 20% of combatants in Ukraine will be diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, which has already been given the name “ATO syndrome”. Given this, there is now an urgent need for rehabilitation activities, and the new conditions of hybrid warfare require social service professionals to respond quickly to combatants’ requests to organise and deliver comprehensive rehabilitation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyse the provision and conduct of psychological rehabilitation of combatants in Ukraine from 2014 to 2021. Philosophical and general scientific methods were employed to achieve the aim. Among the general scientific methods, the theoretical (analysis, generalisation, classification, and synthesis) and empirical (description and comparison) levels should be highlighted. Also, a bibliosemantic method was used to summarise the analysis of the subject literature and our own experimental data. In addition, various programs were employed to rehabilitate the military. For example, the “Cyber Defenders” project, which was launched in 2021. This involved 30 veterans who will receive a certificate in cybersecurity upon graduation. The E-Veteran system, which allows veterans to seek psychological support, was also analyzed. As the main results, it is worth mentioning that psychological rehabilitation is a pool of psychophysiological, psychotherapeutic, organisational, and medical measures aimed at the resumption of lost mental functions and psychocorrection of the social status of military personnel who have suffered mental combat trauma. The study analysed the mental state and profile of servicemen and servicewomen, the psychological and psychiatric problems that affected them, and government programmes and projects to support and assist ATO/JFO(Joint Forces Operation) veterans. Regarding the process of psychological rehabilitation for military personnel in Ukraine itself, positive trends can be observed since 2014, such as the opening of the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, but in the light of current threats and challenges, these undertakings are still insufficient. The system of psychological assistance and rehabilitation of ATO participants should be considered a component of the national security of the state. The article is of practical value in a range of areas, including in political, social work, pedagogical, and educational fields, as well as having application in criminal justice and the law.