Psychological Stratification in Wartime: A Socio-Structural Analysis of Civilian Mental Health Amid Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has endured an unparalleled humanitarian emergency accompanied by a profound psychological crisis. This review critically examines both the immediate and unfolding long-term mental health consequences of the war for Ukrainian civilians, with particular attention to the prevalence and dynamics of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and broader psychosocial degradation. Drawing on a growing body of empirical research, public health evaluations, and theoretical frameworks concerning trauma and structural vulnerability, the article investigates the cumulative psychological effects of sustained bombardment, mass displacement, and the collapse of civil infrastructure. Special emphasis is placed on high-risk groups—including children, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and socioeconomically marginalized populations—whose exposure to trauma is both intensified and prolonged by unequal access to safety, healthcare services, and protective resources. The analysis contends that psychological harm in wartime is inherently stratified, shaped by intersecting axes of social inequality and infrastructural breakdown. In conclusion, the review advocates for a comprehensive, justice-oriented public health approach capable of addressing the complex layers of trauma inflicted upon Ukraine’s civilian population.