Ongoing War Research Articles

Calm me down, or I’ll leave: anxiety and institutional support among Ukrainian academic staff during wartime

BackgroundMental health conditions among academic staff are a growing global concern, driven by factors such as heavy workloads, job insecurity, and a lack of institutional support. Anxiety, one of the most common mental health problems, is particularly widespread in academia, affecting cognitive function and productivity. In Ukraine, the ongoing war has intensified these challenges, creating unprecedented working conditions for academic staff. This study investigates the prevalence of anxiety among Ukrainian academics during wartime. It explores the impact on their desire to change careers and the perceived effectiveness of institutional mental health support.MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed 429 academic staff from Ukrainian higher education institutions between December 2023 and February 2024. Anxiety levels were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, while additional questions assessed the desire to change professions and the perceived effectiveness of institutional mental health support. The data were analyzed using chi-squared tests, correlation analysis, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression.ResultsThe findings revealed that 44.3% of respondents experienced moderate (24%) or severe (20.3%) anxiety, reflecting the profound psychological toll of the war. There was a significant relationship between higher anxiety levels and an increased likelihood of considering a career change. While 90.2% of respondents viewed institutional mental health support as important, many felt that the existing programs were ineffective. Greater accessibility to psychological support services was associated with lower anxiety levels.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of anxiety among Ukrainian academic staff during the war highlights the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions. Institutional mental health support – such as accessible psychological services – is important in the ongoing war conditions. These findings underscore the broader implications of anxiety for the sustainability of Ukraine’s educational and scientific sector during wartime and emphasize the need for comprehensive mental health programs tailored to the unique challenges faced by academics in wartime.

Botulism outbreak in Russia connected to readymade salads

On 15 June 2024, open-source intelligence from EPIWATCH® detected signals of a botulism outbreak in the Russian Federation caused by the Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin. Initial reporting suggested a foodborne outbreak connected to a brand of fish. Further epidemiological investigations identified an additional ready-made salad from a food delivery company. The first report identified 10 cases that were all in intensive care, and by 16 July 2024, 417 cases were reported across 11 regions. Two fatalities were recorded in the outbreak. At least 172 cases were hospitalised, and 43 required mechanical ventilation. Although the outbreak affected 11 regions, the true extent of the outbreak may never be known. Recent reports from the Russian Federation found that 60 per cent of products failed to meet food safety standards. Furthermore, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war will contribute to food insecurity and rising prices, forcing people to turn to cheaper and lower-quality products. The food service company was shut down because of the outbreak, and the investigative committee opened a criminal case against the implicated company. The Russian Federation is no stranger to these outbreaks. Whilst food producers who may be regulated but are going unchecked continue to operate, there is an ongoing risk of future large-scale outbreaks.

Reflections of Culture Wars in Contemporary U.S. Cinema

This article focuses on the impact of cinema in the ongoing culture war between the "orthodox alliance" – conservative, right-wing, predominantly Christian groups – and progressivist, leftist liberal, mostly secular and atheist communities in the struggle for the right to shape the social agenda, dominate public discourse, and define American popular culture. The author examines the advance of the progressivist agenda in Hollywood films and the attempts of right-wing traditionalists to counter this perceived imposition of hostile values through boycotts and the creation of alternative content. The commercial failures of mainstream Hollywood productions that preach diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the sudden box office success of independent titles that appeal to ultraconservative audiences, demonstrate that the longstanding hegemony of liberal perspectives in public entertainment has begun to face considerable competition from orthodoxy. This could affect the outcome of the entire confrontation between two fundamentally different visions of America.

Influence of War on the Forest Plantations of the Left Bank Kherson Region

Mapping burnt areas of forest plantations is needed to understand the scale of the violation and plan the post-fire activities to save the biggest artificially made forest in the world. The military actions due to the ongoing war in Ukraine complicate the monitoring by traditional and standard methods. Given the complexities of military actions, our study during this period is heavily reliant on remote sensing, marking a significant shift from traditional methods. The article is dedicated to the impact of hostilities resulting from Russian armed aggression against Ukraine on the state of forest plantations and shelterbelts of the left bank Kherson region. The research was conducted using images of Sentinel-2 L2A satellite, focusing on the study of forest burnt areas from the beginning of hostilities on the territory of the occupied Kherson region in February 2022 to March 2024. The pre-war year 2021 was used as a benchmark for comparing the state of forest plantations. Satellite images were used to generate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Burn ratio (NBR) index to determine and monitor forest cover changes and burnt areas in forest plantations as a result of hostilities on the research territory using ArcGIS Pro. The area of study is 44 657 hectares, and the burnt area of Oleshky forest in March 2024 was 7 833 hectares (17.5 %). The conducted studies have proved the critical situation with forest plantations on the left bank of the Dnipro River within the Kherson region. This situation necessitates immediate and collaborative intervention to save the ecosystem of Oleshky forest.

Злочини “білих комірців” під час війни

Abstract. The article focuses on the issue of white-collar crime, examining its pervasive and harmful impact on society, especially during periods of social and political instability. White-collar crime typically involves offenses committed by individuals in high-status positions—such as business executives, government officials, and politicians—who exploit their social standing and access to resources for personal or financial gain. These crimes often include actions like economic fraud, bribery, and tax evasion, which erode the foundations of trust, integrity, and transparency in public and private institutions. The article provides an in-depth analysis of various types of white-collar crimes, detailing how economic fraud involves the misappropriation of assets through deception, while bribery enables unlawful influence in decision-making processes, and tax evasion deprives the state of necessary funds for public services. Each of these crimes undermines public confidence in governance and financial systems, often with far-reaching consequences for the economy and society. Ukraine faces unique challenges in combating white-collar crime, especially given its high levels of corruption and ongoing geopolitical conflict. The article emphasizes the latent, often concealed nature of such crimes, which allows offenders to avoid detection and punishment, further emboldening corrupt practices. The article also examines how the war has intensified the need for judicial reform and stronger measures to address white-collar crime, including the imposition of sanctions and more rigorous investigative processes. The conflict has shifted judicial priorities, requiring a heightened focus on cases where criminal acts may also threaten national security. This new context has led to more stringent enforcement and penalties for those whose financial misconduct intersects with issues of national integrity and resilience. Overall, white-collar crime is a pressing issue, as it destabilizes economies, undermines public trust in institutions, and fosters inequality by allowing influential perpetrators to act with relative impunity. Its concealed nature and the often-complex networks involved make it challenging to investigate and prosecute, especially in wartime when resources are stretched, and legal processes may be disrupted. In Ukraine, the impact of white-collar crime is particularly pronounced, as both corruption and the ongoing war have exacerbated and transformed the landscape of these offenses. The article underscores the importance of developing a robust legal framework, increasing transparency, and involving civil society in efforts to expose and combat white-collar crime, thus protecting the nation’s stability and social welfare. Keywords: white-collar crime; economic fraud; bribery; tax evasion; corruption; martial law; legal sanctions.

Spatiotemporal changes in the congestion index of streets and roads in the armed conflict conditions

This article examines the impact of war on the formation of urban transport flows. During armed conflicts, the transport infrastructure of cities undergoes significant changes, which greatly affects the mobility and safety of the population. The need to study this issue is particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, which has caused the largest migration in Europe since World War II. The paper explores the dynamics of these changes and ways to adapt urban transportation systems to war conditions. The study aims to determine the parameters of urban transport zones with specific disruptions in network link congestion indices during different phases of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The research methodology is based on analyzing statistical data on population movements, applying traffic flow models, and conducting a systematic analysis of the interaction between various components of urban transport systems. The goal of this study is to establish the relationships between the areas of cities where disruptions in congestion indices were observed during the initial phase of the invasion. The cities studied are Lviv and Kyiv, whose road networks are also described in the article. Polynomial regression models with two independent variables (the congestion index and the number of days from the beginning of each phase) were developed for three predefined time phases, each with distinct features of the armed conflict. The dependent variable is the area of the city experiencing disruptions in the congestion index relative to normal traffic flow conditions. The study concludes that the relationship between changes in the congestion index and the area of the city experiencing deviations is directly proportional. The absolute values of the indicators studied are lower for Lviv’s network than for Kyiv’s.

Implementation and Challenges of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC)

This paper discusses the implementation and challenges of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC). In addition to economic motivations, the IMEC’s major geopolitical drive is to counter the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and to normalize the relations between Arab states and Israel. However, the corridor faces many risks and difficulties because it will cross the geopolitically delicate Middle East, where ongoing wars, conflicts, political instability, and regional confrontations exist.

Instrumentalizacja migrantów jako forma destabilizacji bezpieczeństwa na wschodniej granicy zewnętrznej UE w kontekście wojny w Ukrainie

INSTRUMENTALISATION OF MIGRANTS AS A FORM OF SECURITY DESTABILIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE The instrumentalization of migrants is a relatively recent phenomenon occuring at the EU’s eastern external border with Belarus. Its objective is to use migration flows as a tool in Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy aimed at destabilizing EU member states. The aim of this article is to examine the instrumentalisation of migrants as a form of security destabilization at the EU’s eastern external border in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine is one of the factors that have directly influenced the instrumentalization of migrants along the border with Belarus. This relationship, although appearing non-obvious at first glance, demonstrates no less than several factors indicative of the interdependence of the two processes. Firstly, it should be understood within the broader objective of instrumentalisation, which seeks to destabilize the European Union. Undoubtedly, one of the objectives of the Russian aggression against Ukraine is to destabilize the EU’s security.

Supporting the War in Ukraine Compared to the Annexation of Crimea in Russia’s Bureaucratic Texts

What can be said about the nature of support for Putin’s policies toward Ukraine in Russia’s bureaucracy? Despite the extensive repression making assessment of the actual nature of the support challenging especially after the 2022 invasion, the instrumental support related to material interests of subordinates is still central in Putin’s patronal system. However, along with radicalization of Putin’s policies, a more normative support can be expected besides material benefits the bureaucracy receives. This article makes an empirical contribution to the issue by analyzing the relationship between instrumental and normative support for the war in Ukraine, using texts of Russia’s bureaucracy from the Integrum database and comparing them to texts following Crimea’s annexation in the same database. Based on various quantitative indicators and the selected qualitative analysis of the texts, it is argued that there is less normative support for the ongoing war of aggression in Russia’s bureaucracy than in the case of Crimea’s annexation. In this regard, the regime’s persuasion costs with the current war for Russia’s bureaucracy remain high because the radicalization of the Kremlin’s foreign policy since 2014 has not manifested itself as clear normative support for this radicalization.

Unveiling the Emotional Landscape of Ukrainian War Narratives using Large Language Models

Social media platforms serve as a dynamic environment where narratives, sentiments, and ideologies intermingle, catalysing the amplification and dissemination of ideas and experiences. As the ongoing endurance war in Ukraine represents a significant inflection point in the contemporary geopolitical landscape, revealing the urgency for comprehensive understanding and analysis of the implications and consequences of the activities therein. While traditional media outlets as we as research and practitioner efforts tackle various social, economic, and political dimensions of this conflict, efforts directed to capturing and reflecting on the nuanced thoughts and emotions of Ukrainian people are still incipient in relation to unconventional social media platforms like TikTok and Telegram. To address this gap, this research develops a novel LLMs (Large Language Models)-based modelling solution that captures, structures, and analyses the discourses characterizing the sentiments and emotions of Ukrainian Telegram users. This is done pursuing a Data Science methodological approach focusing on the insights collected in the first year of war, thus between February 24, 2022, up to February 23, 2023. By harnessing the analytical capabilities of LLMs, this research aims to bridge the gap between conventional understanding and the nuances of human sentiments, thereby advancing comprehension of the multifaceted dimensions of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Democracy by the “Other”: How Ethiopian Diaspora Communities in Virginia Engage in Political Participation

In November 2021, Glen Youngkin, a Republican candidate, won the election for governor of Virginia. For many Virginians, his win was a surprise, especially since President Donald Trump had endorsed him. For Ethiopian communities, the election results were the outcome of months of lobbying and organizing due to their dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party leadership. This development highlights the direct consequences of US foreign policy on its domestic political environment, especially regarding issues ethnic communities care about and how they can influence democratic processes. In this line, this study investigates the relationships between host and homeland political rhetoric and the importance of understanding the political power of diaspora-based conflict communities. Using narrative inquiry, I analyzed the reasons behind the 2020 voting trends among Ethiopian communities in Virginia. For Ethiopian Americans, the ongoing war in the Tigray region, as well as the mainstream media and US government's framing of who is the victim and who is the perpetrator, demonstrates an unwillingness to engage with Ethiopian scholars and practitioners as well as a lack of historical and political understanding coming from the US government. In this polarized time, Americans cannot ignore the direct impact of foreign policy on domestic institutions and how immigrants contribute, through voting, to the election of public servants, including presidents and states representatives.

It is time for Latin America to revisit its nuclear politics and policies

Latin American nations need to reassess their nuclear policies and preparedness. The ongoing war in Ukraine highlights the global risk of nuclear escalation, exacerbated by the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the vulnerability of civilian populations. Latin America possesses nuclear power plants, making it vulnerable to accidents or attacks. It is used the NUKEMAP simulator to illustrate the devastating consequences of a nuclear attack.. It is emphasized the region's lack of comprehensive nuclear safety regulations and preparedness plans, urging governments to collaborate and develop effective emergency strategies. The current institutional framework is deemed inadequate, highlighting the need for stronger regulations and international cooperation.

Exploring consumer purchase aversion amid Israel-Palestine war: a comparative study of consumers in India and GCC countries

Purpose In the context of ongoing Israel-Palestine war, this study aims to explore whether consumer animosity (CA) influences individuals’ reluctance to purchase brands contributing towards the hostile nation. Furthermore, it investigates the mediating effects of product judgement (PJ), boycott motivation (BM) and boycott participation (BP) in this relationship. It also examines the moderating roles of susceptibility to subjective norms (SSN) and switching barriers (SB) in shaping their relationships with purchase aversion (PA). Design/methodology/approach Using existing validated scales, the authors designed and administered an online survey to collect 589 responses from India and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Using Smart PLS 4.0, the authors tested the hypothesized direct and indirect (mediated-moderated) relationships. Findings The findings reveal that in India, CA towards certain brands leads to negative evaluations, BM and BP. In GCC countries, it positively influences BM and BP. In general, SB subsides the influence of BM, PJ and BP on PA; however, SB has no moderating effects at all in the study. Originality/value Drawing upon the theory of planned behaviour, this paper offers novel insights into mediating and moderating roles of selected variables, namely, PJ, BM, BP, SSN and SB, in the direct relationship of CA and PA.

The contribution of the Gaza Envelope Region to Israel’s food security

BackgroundArmed conflicts can severely impact food security by displacing farmers, destroying farms and agricultural infrastructure, disrupting supply chains, and limiting governance control over highly volatile food markets. In this study, we aim to gain an initial understanding of the impact of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War on local food production in Israel.MethodsThis study examined the challenges of food production in the Gaza Envelope region, a border area in Israel that has been profoundly affected by the recent conflict. The analysis focused on the allocation of land to specific agricultural crops and sectors, along with the nutritional output of these edible crops. The nutritional output was standardized based on the dietary needs of the Israeli population, considering population size and demographic factors. These methods aimed to understand the effects of conflict on crop diversity, the risks posed to specific crops, and the implications for nutritional security.ResultsWe found that the Gaza Envelope region is crucial for the propagation of several key crops, notably cherry tomatoes, radishes, and sweet potatoes. We identified 16 crops whose local production is particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to the conflict, including radishes and potatoes. The nutritional output of the edible crops from the Gaza Envelope region is extensive, producing over 50% of the annual caloric requirements of the Israeli population. Beyond the caloric contribution, the produce from the region is nutrient-dense, supplying more than 100% of the annual Dietary Reference Intakes for the Israeli population of 12 vital nutrients, which include dietary fiber, six vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K, and five minerals including potassium and iron. These findings suggest that the Israel-Hamas War is having detrimental ramifications on local food production in Israel.ConclusionsThe ongoing conflict highlights the critical need for data informed agricultural support and policy adjustments to protect food production in conflict-affected areas. Up-to-date and accurate land use data are essential to assess the initial impact of any disaster swiftly and reliably on these zones. This approach will enable more effective responses to safeguard food security under crisis conditions.

“We rather not connect trade to politics, let alone geopolitics” – The changing role of Russia as a landscape pressure for zero-carbon energy transitions

This article aims for conceptual and empirical insights by focusing on a missing aspect in sustainability transitions research: the geopolitical setting as a landscape pressure for energy transitions. It analyses how energy super-power Russia is depicted before and after 2022 as a factor influencing the energy transition of small northern European countries: Estonia, Finland and Norway. The article also provides empirical findings on the impacts of the ongoing war on European energy transitions. We use the ‘landscape’ concept of transition studies to analyse actor perceptions and expectations of this geopolitical landscape shift, via interviewing experts at the energy-security nexus. Landscape is the selection environment for niches and socio-technical regimes, influencing their operational conditions. It contains rapid shocks, e.g., wars and pandemics, and slower geopolitical developments, the effects of which are dependent on the interpretation of actors. The results show that, before 2022, despite all three countries sharing a border with Russia, it was perceived differently as a landscape pressure: a direct security threat in Estonia; both a rather implicit indirect threat and a favoured economic partner in Finland, and; a distanced landscape factor in Norway. Perceptions about Russia became more uniform towards a geopolitical threat after the 2022 landscape shock, resulting also in extraordinary policy measures. The differences between countries show that landscape pressures are partly socially constructed, and, hence, subject to active influence by some actors. For instance, some landscape pressures may be affected by efforts of (de)politicisation or (de)securitisation to reduce or increase the public's focus on them.

Mental Health Services in Gaza

Due to Israel's decades-long occupation in Palestine, mental health problems have emerged in a large part of the population, especially those living in Gaza, alongside the loss of lives and injuries. While the ongoing war conditions have made it difficult even to meet basic human needs, the provision of mental health services has also been significantly restricted. The aim of this article is to review the data on the epidemiology of mental health among women, children, and adolescents in Gaza over the past 20 years, and to examine the state of mental health services in Gaza, with a particular focus on the periods before and after the events of October 7, 2023.

Press under Pressure: Framing of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict in the Slovak Press,

Theories of media effects represent a key area of research within media and communication studies that deals with the way media contents influence the cognitive, affective and behavioural responses of individuals, as well as their wider social and cultural impacts on society. Fundamental theories include agenda-setting, framing and priming. These theories provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the powerful effects of the media on the formation of public opinion, social norms, and political processes, emphasising the critical importance of readers’ media literacy. The present study primarily focuses on framing. It represents a key concept in the field of communication and media studies, which describes how the way information is presented can influence an audience’s perception and decision-making. This article examines different dimensions of framing, including its use in print media informing about the ongoing war in Ukraine, and analyses to what extent framing can be considered a manipulative tool. Through the analysis of media theory in this area and Slovak print media, this article provides certain insight on framing as a phenomenon that plays a fundamental role in the formation of public opinion and explores its potential linguistic and ethical implications. In conclusion, the author proposes concepts that could help minimise the risk of the manipulative use of framing.

Medical education challenges during the war crisis in Sudan: a cross-sectional study, 2023–2024

The ongoing war crisis in Khartoum, Sudan, has created significant challenges for medical students, impacting their education. A cross-sectional study involving 224 medical students was conducted in Khartoum state to explore the challenges faced by medical students during this crisis, using a structured Google Form questionnaire. The majority of participants were female (65.6%), fourth-year students (36.6%), and aged between 22 and 25 years (66.8%). Notably, 92% of the participants had been displaced from Khartoum. The study found that a majority of participants reported experiencing physiological distress, with study distractions (65.2%), anxiety (51.8%), and depression (49.1%). Significant gender differences were observed, with females reporting higher psychological distress compared to males (p-value = 0.04). Additionally, 45% of participants noted that the war led to a shortage of experienced teaching staff, and 56.6% raised concerns about the potential decline in the quality standards of their university's curriculum. Nearly 48% of participants expressed a desire to collaborate with international or local universities in stable regions to continue their education. However, 20.2% believed that online learning can effectively maintain the continuity of their education. A significant correlation was found between university type and the ability to resume activities online or outside of Khartoum State (p-value = 0.01). The study concludes that the war crisis in Khartoum State has had significant, negative consequences for medical students, impacting their mental well-being, access to necessary resources, and overall learning experiences. Immediate interventions, psychological support, and increased coordination and collaboration among international and regional academic institutions are needed.

RELEVANCE OF RESEARCH ON INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FLAT ROOFS

Problem Statement. In Ukraine, the most numerous buildings are those constructed between 1960–1990. As of today, half of them require major repairs. According to current Ukrainian regulatory documents, comprehensive inspections of the entire building should be conducted every 10 years, and at least once every 5 years for buildings or separate elements of buildings that operate under adverse conditions, including roofs. During the full-scale war on the territory of Ukraine, the safety and health of workers are of paramount importance. Especially during air raids, when being on the roof is most dangerous—posing a threat to the life and health of specialists inspecting the roof [1]. The issue of preserving life and health is particularly significant during the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, the International Code Council, the main institution for standardizing building systems in the USA, issued recommendations during the Covid-19 pandemic regarding remote inspection of building structures. The authorities of Los Angeles at the municipal level proposed using this method for building structure inspections [2]. Objective. The article aims to analyze the needs and challenges associated with roof inspections in Ukraine, particularly in the Dnipropetrovsk region, in the context of the ongoing full-scale war. It is necessary to determine the overall volume of roofs requiring inspection, the main defects that arise, and the risks that may occur due to the lack of timely inspections. Additionally, the article needs to outline the main stages of the roof inspection process, identify the necessary knowledge and skills required by qualified specialists for comprehensive roof inspections. Conclusions. Analyzing the total number of buildings and the norms determining the frequency of roof inspections, considering all preparation stages and the skills needed by inspection specialists, as well as the conditions of the full-scale war in which our country finds itself today, it can be concluded that the preparation of such specialists is resource-intensive and requires significant investments of time and effort. Unfortunately, according to IMF data, the population of Ukraine is showing a tendency to decrease. According to statistics, in 2022 the population decreased to 35 million, and by 2023 – to 33.2 million. This leads to a decline in the number of sufficiently qualified specialists who will be able to comprehensively engage in roof inspections. The general review of aspects showed the need to introduce innovative solutions and new approaches in the field of comprehensive roof inspections. This particularly concerns the effective detection of roof defects, the preparation of comprehensive reports, and estimates with maximum savings of time, financial, and human resources.

Inequality Challenged and Restored

In the 1710s, under pressure from an ongoing war, Sweden’s absolute king, Charles XII, implemented a number of fiscal and monetary measures that displayed a disdain for traditional privileges and carried a potential for social change. Taxation was made progressive and credit became more important to finance the war. Liquidity was radically expanded, most significantly by the release of very large amounts of fiat coins. Following the death of Charles XII in November 1718, there was a political reaction against the war policies and the fiscal and monetary measures were reversed, resulting in the dismantling of royal absolutism and a partial government default. This study consists of two parts. In the first, we investigate the impact of the war policy and the monetary measures of Charles XII’s regime on the social redistribution of resources in Swedish society, especially in the years 1715 to 1718. In the second, we focus on how the socioeconomic changes were addressed by political agents between the death of Charles XII and the default of 1719. Our results show that the fiat money permeated the economy and reached all social groups, and that in some locations its distribution upset the prevailing social order. Peasants and other low-ranking groups were targeted by the partial default, which largely deprived them of their monetary assets.