Growing up under fire: Ukraine’s children adapt to survive Russia's invasion

At 12 years old, Lera is learning to walk again. Timid steps at first, but more confident with each one she takes.

Last summer a Russian missile attack shattered one of her legs, and left the other badly burned. Close to 2,000 children have been injured or killed in Ukraine since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion. But the war doesn’t always leave visible scars like those that run up Lera’s leg.

“Almost every child has problems caused by the war,” says psychologist Kateryna Bazyl. “We are witnessing a catastrophic number of children turning to us with different unpleasant symptoms.” Right across Ukraine, young people are experiencing loss, fear and anxiety. An increasing number struggle to sleep, have panic attacks or flashbacks.

There’s also been a surge in cases of child depression among a generation growing up under fire.