'We are tired of being scared': Women of Ukraine share their hopes and fears three years into Russia's war

Iryna Matiyashek’s life changed overnight when Russian troops rolled into Ukraine in February 2022. Born and raised in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, the 27-year-old business analyst fled to London during the invasion but still struggles to accept what is happening back home.

“The first three days after Russia invaded were the hardest of my life,” she told The London Standard. “It felt so unfair—having to fight for something as basic as freedom while others simply have it.”. Since February 24, 2022, life in Ukraine has been marked by war, displacement, loss and resilience. Now, as the country marks the grim milestone of three years on from the Russian invasion, many are looking ahead with just as much uncertainty as they had back then.

Headlines have recently been dominated by news of US President Donald Trump warming to Russia’s Vladimir Putin while vowing to bring peace to the region. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European allies, who have worked tirelessly to support Ukraine over the last few years, have been alarmingly excluded from recent peace talks.

After three years of war, many Ukrainians fear that allies are turning their backs on their country. “I’m afraid this war won’t really end. It will just get paused to start again later,” Ms Matiyashek added, explaining that she is worried not only for Ukrainians but also other Europeans. “I’m afraid our enemy will feel encouraged and try to take more, not just from us but from others too.”.

As of January 2025, more than 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees were registered as living around Europe. Now living in Lisbon, Polina Hedzenko shares similar fears for the future of Ukraine but added: “We have no other choice. We have to win.”. Reflecting on the hopes of one day rebuilding Ukraine after the war, Ms Hedzenko acknowledged that international cooperation is crucial to whatever comes next, highlighting that the outcome has an implication not just for the Ukrainian people.

"Ukrainians are bored and tired of this war,” she said. “And probably the foreign media and people in other countries are tired and bored as well. But it's really important not to forget and to keep supporting us, because you're not just supporting the Ukrainians—you’re fighting the ultimate evil in this world at the moment.".

Many Ukrainians are feeling the emotional toll and fatigue of a three-year war, yet still find moments of hope among the destruction. “I'm very tired of being scared,” Ukrainian freediving athlete and world record holder Kateryna Sadurska said. “Our nervous system as Ukrainians is so drained, especially when you spend some time with all these air raids and explosions and losses.”.

As a professional athlete, Sadurska has broken world records since the war began and found a sense of escape through diving. But between competitions and training, she’ll return to Kharkiv to spend time with her family and community. Going home gives her hope, but she acknowledges that international support for the future of Ukraine is crucial.

"My hopes are that the Western world will wake up and start to do the actions which will help us to resist and to make Ukraine stronger… because we really have the opportunity to change things now.”. While most Ukrainians cling to hope for the future, many have started to wonder what justice would look like should the war end.

Speaking to The London Standard from Lviv, Yaroslava Danyliuk said: "Peace is achieved on our terms with no back-alley deals when it comes to the future of millions of people and the country as a whole.”. Like many others, however, she feared this was a “fantasy,” adding that her biggest fear was “no retribution or punishment for the Russian war criminals.”.

But as these political uncertainties play out on the global stage, a more pressing reality faces people currently living in Ukraine: making their country safe. Rebuilding efforts are underway even as the bombing continues, signaling a desire to return to everyday life and safety.

“I realised that many things I used to worry about or give too much attention to before the war aren’t really worth it,” she said. “What truly matters is your family, friends, and health - not material things. The war has shown me what is really important.”.

For her to do her work effectively and safely clear the land, she can’t afford to have distractions. “I don’t read the news because it makes me anxious,” she said. “I'll try not to get too depressed, keep on living, and at least try to be useful to my country.”.

Other less dangerous rebuilding efforts are taking place around the country too, but the underlying state of fear is impossible to shake for those living in Ukraine. Despite rebuilding and reconciliation efforts, most Ukrainians still live in constant fear for their lives.