The war has exacerbated Ukraine's already bleak demographic future. Failing birth rates and one economic crisis followed by another has led to the country's population numbers dwindling—from over 51 million in 1991 to the current 43 million. Thousands have already been killed in the war and about five (to seven) million refugees have fled across the borders into the European Union. With the Russian attacks on the country's infrastructure intensifying and Ukrainians bracing to suffer through the harsh winter with little heat, water, or electricity, it's expected that a few more million will soon flee.
Many will not be returning home.
Some have no home to return to, others look for a better economic future, some want their children to have a certain stability and continue studying in the schools abroad. Devastatingly, many are middle and upper middle class, well-educated, families with children, potentially the country's future leaders.
