Daira Zagraniuk is a psychologist at Save Ukraine, where she has worked since March 2024.
Daria a Save Urkraine child psychologist supports children and families who have returned to Ukraine. Below, she shares her experiences over the past 18 months and reflects on the impact that living under occupation or being forcibly transferred to Russia has had on them.
“When children return from Russian control, we first get to know their families.
If the children’s mental health condition is very serious, we act immediately. We meet them at the Save Ukraine centre, start working with them right away, help stabilise them, and begin building trust.
Then comes acceptance—accepting themselves again, reclaiming their identity, and beginning the work of processing the trauma they experienced.
After that, we keep working with them, kids or adults, if they still need help. We also refer them to different organisations for support.
Last month, I worked with 60 children. Before they arrive, all I know is their last name, some basic personal info, and where they’re returning from. That’s it. That’s for security reasons.
The number of children keeps growing. It’s because Save Ukraine is helping and because the families themselves want to return to Ukraine.
The most common issues we see are anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
We also see sleep problems. Another big challenge is restoring trust—both in other people and in their surroundings.
"When I talk with a child, they usually don’t open up right away. If they don’t trust you, they won’t share what’s really bothering them or how they truly feel. That means you can’t find out what’s going on. For example, I worked with one girl who would always ask me, “You’re not going to tell anyone what I said, right?” Once she really felt that I listened to her and supported her, she began to open up and talk about her pain and what she was going through inside.
The boys living under occupation are under huge stress. Teenage boys who support Ukraine get visited by the occupiers, who unfortunately come to hand out draft notices. They face the added fear and stress of possibly being drafted into the Russian army, which they don’t want.
This leads to anxiety, trouble sleeping, and eating disorders. Some kids withdraw completely, while others stop talking to people at all. They shut down in daily life. It’s all tied to anxiety, nervousness, and depression."
It also damages their sense of identity—specifically, their Ukrainian identity. It’s a deep trauma for children. They lose their sense of self, feel lost, and don’t know where to turn.
I remember a boy who came here after living in occupation. In class, he spoke Russian because that’s what he was used to. When he lived there, he was bullied for speaking Ukrainian. Then, when he came back to Ukraine, he was scared to speak Russian because it had become his habit.
He was afraid. But once he saw that nobody here judged him for it, that nobody bullied him, he relaxed. He opened up, started talking more, and began to remember his Ukrainian. Now he’s reconnecting with his roots and rebuilding his Ukrainian identity.
I can tell you about the condition a child was in when she first arrived, and how she’s doing now. This girl had been through severe trauma. She lived under guardianship and was in a very fragile, borderline state. She was anxious and couldn’t sleep. She didn’t know how she’d be received in Ukraine and was very afraid.
Of course, she dreamed of coming here, but at the same time, she was extremely nervous and scared. When she arrived at Save Ukraine, she was really touched by how warmly she was welcomed. Now, after working with her, she’s stable. She smiles and already has lots of friends. She’s in such a positive place now—she has dreams, does what she loves, and enjoys herself. She plays sports, draws, and is really growing as a person.
It depends on the child, but recovery can take anywhere from three months to six months, depending on how much support they need. In my work with teenagers, I haven’t seen any relapses. I personally keep an eye on them, check in about how they’re feeling, and stay engaged in their lives."
What worries me most is that in the occupied territories, children have no access to real support. No one is there to help them. As a result, they lose their sense of identity. They face a deep inner conflict.
"There’s also a real shortage of qualified specialists who can provide this kind of professional help. There’s been a clear increase in requests for psychological help and support.
I carry with me all the stories, all the experiences of the kids I work with. I’m with them every day. It takes up all my time. I’d gladly take on more work if it meant better supporting Ukrainian children who’ve returned from the occupied territories.”
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly displaced and taken into Russia.
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