"Shadows of Youth: Testimonies from a Generation at War"
This digital exhibit brings together the voices of young Ukrainians whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the Russian invasion. Through a selection of four powerful testimonies, this exhibit explores how war reshapes identity, community, and memory in the formative years of life. These accounts do not simply recount the facts of war; they reveal its emotional, psychological, and social aftermath through the eyes of those caught in its grip.
At the heart of this exhibit is a central theme: the collision between youth and war, and the resilience that emerges in its wake. These testimonies, all from individuals aged 18 to 20, speak to a generation that has been forced to grow up too quickly, navigating trauma, displacement, and fear while also discovering new forms of resistance, solidarity, and hope. The stories presented here reflect a wide range of experiences, including sudden evacuation, life under occupation, the ongoing psychological toll of conflict, and the devastation of environmental catastrophe. Yet, woven throughout each narrative is a thread of resilience — a quiet strength that refuses to be extinguished.
This is not a distant war. These testimonies are from people the same age as many of us: students, peers, young adults finding their way in a world turned upside down. By focusing on this specific age group, the exhibit invites viewers to confront the realities of war not through statistics or headlines but through the personal reflections of a generation whose coming of age has been shaped by violence, uncertainty, and an enduring will to survive.
These stories are not only a record of suffering, but also a call to listen. It urges us to bear witness to the lived experiences behind the conflict and to recognize the urgent need for empathy, justice, and peace. As you move through these testimonies, you are invited to reflect on the fragile boundaries between normalcy and crisis, memory and loss, and to consider what it means to be young and human in a time of war.
Testimony 1586
Age: 18–20 | Gender: Male | Region: Dnipropetrovsk | Date: 2023-05-24 | Forcibly Displaced: Yes
This testimony captures the immediate emotional shock of the invasion’s outbreak through the voice of a young man forced to evacuate with his family. His disorientation, fear, and helplessness illustrate how the earliest days of war fracture both family life and internal stability. This account speaks to the theme of sudden displacement and its long-lasting psychological effects, particularly on youth. As noted in Cai et al. (2022), such early trauma can have enduring impacts on mental health, especially when experienced during critical years of identity formation.
Testimony 1589
Age: 18–20 | Gender: Female | Region: Kherson | Date: 2023-06-09 | Forcibly Displaced: Yes (from occupied area)
Told by a young woman living under Russian occupation, this testimony reveals the psychological burden of constant surveillance, checkpoints, and fear. Her story highlights the quiet acts of defiance that sustain a sense of self amid repression. It reflects the hybrid nature of this war, where identity, politics, and power intersect with daily life (Polishchuk & Maksimishyna, 2021). This account is central to the exhibit’s focus on how youth confront the loss of autonomy and negotiate resistance in occupied spaces.
Testimony 1603
Age: 18–20 | Gender: Female | Region: Zhytomyr | Date: 2023-07-22 | Forcibly Displaced: No
Although not forcibly displaced, this young woman’s testimony powerfully reflects the internal shift from fear to resilience. Her account offers a window into how war reverberates beyond immediate danger zones, shaping mental health and worldview even in "safe" regions. It aligns with findings from Alkureishi and Hageman (2022), which emphasize how indirect exposure to conflict can deeply affect adolescents. Her testimony underscores how the shared trauma of war becomes a generational experience, reshaping identity and emotional development across Ukraine.
Testimony 1608
Age: 18–20 | Gender: Male | Region: Poltava | Date: 2023-08-05 | Forcibly Displaced: No
This testimony focuses on the emotional aftermath of witnessing the Kakhovka dam’s destruction. For this young man, environmental catastrophe becomes a symbol of national loss, compounding the psychological strain of war. His reflections resonate with the idea that conflict not only targets people but landscapes, identities, and futures. As noted by Cai et al. (2022), ecological trauma intensifies feelings of helplessness and existential fear among youth. This account brings a vital dimension to the exhibit: the war’s impact on both physical and emotional environments.