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Neurological letter from Ukraine
  1. Larysa Panteleienko1,2,
  2. Solomiia Bandrivska3,4
  1. 1 Department of Neurology, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
  2. 2 Stroke Research Centre, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL, London, UK
  3. 3 Dept. of Neurology #1, P L Shupik National Medical Academy of Post-Graduate Education, Kyiv, Ukraine
  4. 4 Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Department of Brain Sciences, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Larysa Panteleienko, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv 01601, Ukraine; l.panteleienko{at}ucl.ac.uk

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Today, Ukraine is a country firmly at the centre of global consciousness. Located at the very heart of Europe (figure 1), Ukraine boasts a rich tapestry of culture and a history spanning thousands of years; the largest national flag, in Kyiv, is shown in figure 2. Yet Ukrainian people find themselves having to, once again, defend their national identity, liberty and sovereignty—at a tremendous cost.

Figure 1

Ukraine in Europe map (Wikimedia).

Figure 2

The largest national flag of Ukraine, Kyiv.

Russia’s unprovoked aggression, initiated in 2014 with the occupation of Crimea and parts of the Donbass region, escalated into an all-out war in February 2022. The war has starkly divided the lives of Ukrainians into the ‘before’ and ‘after’ (figures 3–6). In the span of 500 days since the invasion on 24 February, the human cost, as documented by the United Nations (UN), has been stark: 9083 dead and 15 779 people wounded,1 including 535 children lost and 1047 injured.2 These already devastating figures likely considerably understate the full extent of the human toll: the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other observers believe the actual numbers are much higher, as acquiring precise data from the conflict-afflicted and occupied regions remains a daunting task. Further, destruction of infrastructure and population displacement have resulted in the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War. Russian invasion has led to the destruction of 143 800 Ukrainian homes, leaving 2.4 million people homeless. Seven million people have been internally displaced, while over 5 million have sought refuge abroad, primarily in Europe. These factors are expected to result in long-term socioeconomic and public health impact.3

Figure 3

Civilian building after missile attack with Banksy mural on it. Borodyanka, Kyiv region (Courtesy of Serhiy Salomatin).

Figure 4

Buildings destroyed during the war. Bucha, Kyiv region (Courtesy …

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Footnotes

  • Contributors LP conceived the concept and wrote the first draft. SB provided data input. Both authors reviewed and critically appraised the manuscript.

  • Funding LP is supported in her work at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, by a CARA-UCL Academic Sanctuary Fellowship.

  • Map disclaimer The inclusion of any map (including the depiction of any boundaries therein), or of any geographic or locational reference, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of BMJ concerning the legal status of any country, territory, jurisdiction or area or of its authorities. Any such expression remains solely that of the relevant source and is not endorsed by BMJ. Maps are provided without any warranty of any kind, either express or implied.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned. Externally peer reviewed by Colin Mumford, Edinburgh, UK, and David Breen, Edinburgh, UK.