Today in Focus Ukrainian men on how four years of war has changed them
Feb 24, 2026
Shaun Walker, Guardian correspondent on Ukraine and regional politics, offers analysis of the front lines and wider strategy. Tracey McVeigh, conflict reporter, shares on-the-ground accounts of wounded men and civilian impact. They explore how mobilization, military camaraderie, shifting masculinity, frontline stalemate, and the toll of winter and politics have reshaped men’s lives.
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DJ Conscripted At A Checkpoint
- Alex went from being a DJ in Odesa to being stopped at a checkpoint and conscripted into basic training before an office posting in Kyiv.
- He avoided recruitment centers, volunteered in civilian kitchens and music clubs, then after 60 days of training said the shared routine with men was a "game changer."
Three Years In Captivity Then Home To A Stranger
- Tracey described a young soldier who spent three years in Russian captivity and returned to find a partner and baby he barely knew.
- The man faced extreme trauma reintegrating into sudden family life after years as a POW.
War Reshaped Men's Relationships With Women
- Men returning from combat report deep changes in relationships with women, including anxiety, loss of confidence and perceived resentment from partners.
- Tracey McVeigh found men avoided looking at or speaking to women and felt judged for having 'had their fun' before the war.