On August 10, 2026, Foreign Policy published “Russia Is Targeting Ukraine’s Traumatized Youth” by Luke McGee, detailing the severe impact of the war on Ukrainian children. The article highlights organizations supporting this vulnerable generation, notably featuring Ridni Foundation’s ongoing work to reform Ukraine’s institutional care system.
Noting that almost 26,000 children were living full-time in institutions across Ukraine as of March 2025, Ridni CEO Mariana Romaniak provided crucial context to the international publication:
“What tends to surprise people most is that only 18 percent of them, 4,568 children, are actually orphans or legally without parental care,” she explained. “Roughly four in five children in institutional care have at least one parent alive – they’re there because their family didn’t get the support it needed in time, not because they have no family at all”.
The piece also showcased Ridni’s collaboration with the Lviv Regional Military Administration to transform a former residential institution into a temporary protection center focused on family reunification.
Highlighting the emotional barriers traumatized children face, Romaniak explained that a child’s struggle to accept help often masks deeper fears. “It can look like defiance, but underneath there may simply be a question: ‘Can I trust you, and will you still be here tomorrow?'” she noted.
Read the full analysis on the Foreign Policy website.
