Ukraine launches sperm preservation drive for soldiers amid war losses

Ukraine launches sperm preservation drive for soldiers amid war losses

Ukraine's military personnel can now freeze sperm free of charge under a state-backed program aimed at preserving the nation's future generations as the war with Russia enters its fourth year.

Why soldiers are freezing sperm

Maxim, a 35-year-old National Guard soldier stationed near the eastern front, recently froze his sperm during a leave in Kyiv. His wife encouraged the visit to a fertility clinic, where the procedure was provided at no cost.

"Our men are dying. The Ukrainian gene pool is dying. This is about the survival of our nation," Maxim said by phone from the frontline. He explained that constant stress from drone threats and combat conditions can reduce reproductive ability, making preservation critical for the future.

"Whether you are right on the frontline or 80 kilometers back, there is no guarantee of safety," he added.

How the program works

Private fertility clinics began offering cryopreservation to military personnel in 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion. The procedure was initially free but unregulated. Parliament later stepped in to standardize the practice and allocate state funding.

"Our soldiers are defending our future but may lose their own, so we wanted to give them that chance,"

MP Oksana Dmitrieva

Dmitrieva, who helped draft the legislation, noted that initial public backlash erupted when the law required destroying samples upon a donor's death. The policy was amended after a war widow was blocked from using her husband's frozen sperm. Under the revised law, samples are preserved for up to three years post-mortem and can be accessed by a partner with prior written consent.

Demographic crisis deepens

Ukraine's fertility program also aims to address a pre-existing demographic crisis worsened by the war. Thousands of young, fit men have died in combat, while millions-primarily women-remain abroad as refugees. Four years into the conflict, many have not returned due to ongoing hardships, including relentless Russian missile strikes that have left buildings in Kyiv without heat this winter.

"We're thinking about the future and all the young people we've lost. We need to replace them," Dmitrieva said. "This is one tiny step to improve the demographic situation."

The MP actively encourages soldiers to discuss fertility issues and consider sperm preservation during frontline visits. "At first, they're embarrassed, but after we talk, they come and do it," she said. "If they have this chance, why not?"

Clinic struggles and low uptake

Kyiv's state-run Centre for Reproductive Medicine began accepting soldiers into the program in January, but only about a dozen have enrolled so far. Clinic director Oksana Holikova expects demand to rise as awareness grows.

"We have high hopes," Holikova said, showing the laboratory where sperm is collected, processed, and stored in giant vats. However, the clinic's patient numbers have halved since the war began, with only one newborn and one woman in labor present during a recent visit.

"If women are stressed, they can have problems with their periods. It's all linked," Holikova noted. "About 60% of my patients are on antidepressants due to panic attacks from missiles and drones."

Others exhibit "delayed life syndrome," postponing major decisions like childbirth due to safety concerns. "Women are scared of getting pregnant if they'll end up running to bomb shelters," she added.

Legal and emotional hurdles

Despite the program's goals, legal ambiguities persist. Katerina Malyshko and her husband Vitaly had been trying to conceive for years, attributing their struggles to war-induced stress and sleepless nights. After Vitaly's death in a guided bomb strike, the clinic refused to let Katerina use their frozen embryos or his sperm.

"They would store it, but I couldn't use it," she said. Dmitrieva intervened to resolve such cases, but admits the law still needs "ironing out." A vote on amendments is scheduled for spring.

Katerina ultimately won her case in court after six emotionally exhausting months. "I read the ruling and sat there and cried," she recalled. "It was our family. We had waited so long and been through so much."

Though not ready to try for a child yet, Katerina wants the option to honor her husband's memory. "I think the children of our soldiers who've been killed should have a chance to live in the country their parents died for," she said.

Soldiers push for wider awareness

Maxim believes the biggest challenge is persuading more soldiers to participate. "Men are secretive, but there are lots of psychological problems," he admitted, citing veterans who struggle with intimacy or conception.

Holikova recounted a veteran telling her soldiers arrived in tears over fertility issues. Maxim suggested making sperm preservation mandatory upon conscription, similar to DNA sampling for identification.

"All that's holding people back is that we need to talk about this more and explain why it's important," he concluded. "Because we men won't do anything unless you shove it in our face-and make us."