Divorce rates in Ukraine increased in the first half of 2024: what was the reason?
10 September 2024 19:16
ANALYSIS FROM 
Divorces in Ukraine increased by one and a half times in the first half of 2024. This is evidenced by data from Opendatabot. There is one divorce for every five marriages in Ukraine. Overall, Ukrainians entered into 15% fewer marriages during this period.
"Komersant Ukrainian" found out what the main reason is and why, after a wedding boom in the first year of the full-scale invasion, the number of marriages has been gradually decreasing every year.
Since the beginning of the year, Ukrainians have created 72,766 new families. This is 15% less than in the same period last year and a third less by 2022.
“It’s worth noting that after the wedding boom in the first year of the full-scale invasion, the number of marriages gradually decreased every year. This year, for the first time, even fewer new families were created than before the great war,” Opendatabot analysts said.
At the same time, Ukrainians are increasingly entering into prenuptial agreements. Since the beginning of the year, notaries have used 3,768 notarial forms for marriage contracts, which is a quarter more than in the same period last year.
Psychologist Valentyn Kim in an exclusive commentary for offers to look at the situation from the point of view of practitioners. He says that marriage is, in a sense, a practice that we use every day.
“It’s about communication, about relationships, about doing something together. And so divorces can be associated with the fact that some practices become impossible. It is really very difficult to keep a relationship at a distance. It is a very heavy burden for love,” Valentin Kim
Moreover, marriage is not always based on love, the psychologist notes. When families are divorced, there is less useful, consumable substance to sustain it.
“Sometimes people stay married by inertia, by habit. As soon as some circumstances change, these relationships may cease to work. War, as a very powerful social process, grinds up many things, like habits. And marriage begins to suffer, like all other associations. In particular, friendship and family ties,” Valentyn Kim
So, one of the main reasons for divorce is war. The psychologist gives examples of when relatives and friends stop communicating because of war, political disagreements, or simply no longer have the opportunity to communicate.
“In order to live with someone, you need a resource. It is good if marriage provides it. Not all marriages are donor marriages, there are marriages that consume energy, and while you live in peaceful life, you have enough strength for this, but during the war you may not have enough,” Valentin Kim
How to save a marriage in time of war?
Maintaining a marriage during war can be very difficult due to stress, distance and anxiety, but psychologists point out several important aspects that can help keep relationships strong:
Communication. It is important to talk openly about your feelings, fears and hopes. If physical contact is limited, try to keep in touch through phone calls, video chats, and messages.
Support each other. It is especially important to be an emotional support now. Maintain empathy and help your partner cope with their feelings.
Maintaining intimacy. Find a way to maintain emotional and spiritual closeness, even if the physical distance is great. Romantic gestures, support in small ways, and plans for the future can help.
Shared goals. Even in times of war, it is important to have common goals and dreams. It can be as simple as planning for life after the war or raising children together.
Understanding the stress of war. Awareness that war affects the psyche and behaviour will help to avoid rash conflicts and misunderstandings.
Ask for help. If you feel that you cannot cope on your own, you should contact specialists – psychologists or marriage counsellors.
Author – Anastasia Fedor
