Europe has not seen an armed conflict since the Second World War. Six months have passed since the war started.
Since Russia launched its unprovoked war, millions of Ukrainians have fled their country, but fighting-age men are not allowed to leave if they are needed to defend the nation.
Ukrainians have lost a lot in this war. They no longer know the lives they used to know. They won't get back the time they spent with their families. It's not possible to replace the loved ones they've lost.
The war has taken a toll on many people. The Ukrainian people are still fighting to remain optimistic despite the suffering and uncertainty. Hope can be difficult in the face of war.
Insider spoke with four Ukrainian men about how their lives have changed since the war began. Stories, thoughts, and experiences are what they are.
The most difficult part of the war has been my friends' funerals, and it is so unfair to lose those prominent youngsters because of the occupant.
Desiatnyk has continued to push forward despite his losses.
Two days after the war began, Desiatnyk started volunteering at the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation. He wanted to help the Ukrainian forces.
Desiatnyk said that it was almost 24/7. The front line moved so that we could look for the war-life balance.
He said that life is pretty much the same as before the full-scale invasion, except for the air raid alert, curfews, and shocking news from the front line.
He's still feeling confident even though he doesn't know when the war will end. He referred to the Ukrainian troops as the Gods of War.
He said that he was certain that the people and government of Ukraine would prevail. There are a lot of stories that inspire and motivate people to be involved in resistance.
Oleksii Rozanov, 28, in Dnipro, felt like he was exhausted, tired and powerless.
"Maybe in the beginning I had hopes that this will be over soon, but right now I feel mostly depressed and feel that life is just passing by," he said.
One of the hardest parts of the war has been coming to terms with the fact that nothing will be the same.
I don't think the war will end in a week or a month. He said he didn't know next year.
It was difficult for him to accept that the war would not be over by summer. For all the plans I had, I waited for this summer.
He used to travel a lot and do a lot of self development.
He is taking time for reflection because of the war. "I like to rediscover myself in all the aspects of who I am, what I am, what I like, and where I want to be." The most significant change that happened was the rebirth of my life.
The most noticeable change about life since the invasion has been the loss of the ability to plan. The only thing he can think about at the moment is the next week.
"You can't predict what you're going to do in a month," she said. He has changed his view. Instead of making long-term plans like he used to, he's focused on "living here and now, as tomorrow may not happen."
Being a Ukrainian nowadays is like buying a lottery ticket because of the Russian missile attacks. He said that safe day meant casualties in another city. We won't be the same as before war.
He said that he began going to therapy in March because he felt like he was living in a "dysfunctional" world.
People who have watched the war with their own eyes are already broken ones.
Hearing so many stories of personal loss has been the most challenging part of the war. I've spoken to people in the trenches. He said it was difficult.
"Victory and a peaceful sky" is what the majority of Ukrainians want to see in the future," she said.
The man in Dnipro said that everything has changed.
He explained that the war created a new reality of fear and uncertainty.
He said that your life changes a lot when a war breaks out.
Kalatsky said that half a year of war has been exhausting emotionally and that he has been eating and sleeping less.
Kalatsky said that he was searching for security for himself and his family and that the tough experiences of the war had united Ukrainians. I feel the pain of the Ukrainians who have died. Whenever I read something in the news or hear something from my friends, I always ask "How can I help?".
Kalatsky said his father went into the army on the day the war started, but he's been talking to him on the phone every day. He said that he's trying to stay positive during the hard times and that he became closer to him.
He said that the only thing he has is to stay optimistic about the war ending.
Kalatsky said that his heart was full of hope that the war would end. I am fortunate not to have lost any of my friends or relatives in the war. The only thing that matters is everything else. We should do what it takes to survive and show the world that Russia is a thing of the past.
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