Amid ongoing conflict with Russian forces, Oleksandr, a 36-year-old Ukrainian soldier, has put his dreams of fatherhood on hold. Instead, he’s chosen to freeze his sperm, ensuring his family’s future despite the risks of war. Oleksandr, who has been on the frontlines since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, plans to use the frozen sperm for his wife, Kateryna, to conceive if he is killed in combat.
While Kateryna lives as a refugee in the Czech Republic, Oleksandr remains determined to raise children with her. He says, “I want to raise my child, not just leave them with my partner.” The couple envisions a future living together in the mountains with plenty of cats, though the realities of war make that dream seem distant.
This practice of sperm freezing has become increasingly common among Ukrainian soldiers. Due to new legislation, Ukrainian soldiers can now freeze their sperm for free, with many clinics offering the service. The procedure serves as an “insurance policy,” allowing soldiers to secure their future, despite the dangers they face.
Before the war, Ukraine was already facing a demographic crisis, with a population decline exacerbated by the conflict. The UN reports that the country’s population has dropped by nearly 19% since the war began. The birth rate, one of the lowest globally, has further contributed to this crisis.
In response to the war’s challenges, many civilians, including women like Daria Chernyshova, are also opting to freeze their eggs. Chernyshova, a 23-year-old student from Kharkiv, said she delayed the decision but eventually felt it was necessary, given the uncertainty of the situation.
Despite the dire circumstances, the practice of freezing sperm and eggs continues to rise in Ukraine, especially in regions like Kharkiv, where many civilians fear the worst as the war escalates. Clinics like the Feskov clinic are seeing increased demand for the procedure, and they’ve adapted to the ongoing threat by relocating laboratories to underground shelters, away from Russian airstrikes.
As Ukrainian citizens face ongoing hardship, many are holding on to hope for a better future and a post-war baby boom. The procedure represents a desperate but determined effort to preserve their dreams of family amid the horrors of war.
