THE IMPACT OF COMBAT FACTORS ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

Abstract

The article presents an in-depth analysis of the impact of psychotraumatic factors of the combat environment on the psychological health of Ukrainian military personnel in the context of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. It is argued that the modern nature of combat operations, which is characterised by high intensity, duration and technological sophistication, places an unprecedented strain on the moral and psychological resilience of personnel. Based on an analysis of scientific sources and the ‘Standard for Individual Psychological Training of Armed Forces Personnel,’ it is proven that combat stress is a universal and inevitable phenomenon for every participant in combat operations. The paper proposes a detailed classification of combat stressors, which are divided into two key groups. The first group of specific stressors includes factors that pose a direct threat to life and health: participation in combat, artillery shelling, witnessing the death of comrades, receiving wounds and concussions, as well as the traumatic experience of captivity and torture. It is emphasised that these factors can cause acute stress reactions and, in the long term, lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The second group of non-specific stressors includes factors that have a cumulative, debilitating effect: prolonged psychological stress, chronic sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, social isolation, separation from loved ones, interpersonal conflicts, and loss of trust in leadership. These factors gradually undermine psychological resources and can lead to emotional burnout, depression, and anxiety disorders.