Ukraine War Trauma: Can Psychedelic Therapy Help Veterans & Heal PTSD?

Kyiv, Ukraine—The visible scars of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are stark and well-documented. But as the conflict enters its fifth year, a quieter, more insidious crisis is unfolding: the long-term psychological toll on those who have fought to defend the country, and on civilians caught in the crossfire. Millions are estimated to be suffering from trauma-related conditions, prompting a search for effective treatments beyond traditional methods. Among the emerging, and often controversial, possibilities is psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), a researched approach that some experts believe could offer a transformative path to healing for veterans and others grappling with the invisible wounds of war.

The experience of Stanislav Hibadulin, a Ukrainian soldier, illustrates the profound challenges many face. Born in Moldova, Hibadulin felt compelled to join the fight after Russia’s 2014 seizure of Crimea. Enlisting in the Azov Volunteer regiment in 2015, he adopted the call sign “Hitman” and served for several years. A 2018 ambush left him physically wounded – shot in the leg and abdomen – and witnessed the devastating injury of his close friend, Ilya, who succumbed to a severe neck wound. In the midst of evacuation, Hibadulin, who identifies as an atheist, found himself praying for his friend’s life, offering his own in exchange.

Though Hibadulin survived, losing his spleen in the process, Ilya did not. Driven by grief and a desire for revenge, he returned to the front lines, sustaining further injuries – losing fingers and ultimately a leg – in subsequent engagements. The war inflicted three physical injuries, but Hibadulin identifies a fourth, “invisible” wound: post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

The Emergence of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

The symptoms of Hibadulin’s PTSD manifested months after leaving the battlefield. “It felt like my body is alive, but my soul is dead, like I lost it,” he recalls. The psychological distress eroded his romantic relationship and triggered hundreds of panic attacks daily, leaving him feeling unable to breathe – a sensation he describes with the Ukrainian word for “choking.” Initial treatment with antidepressants proved ineffective, leading him to seek alternative solutions.

Despite a lifestyle devoid of alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs, Hibadulin cautiously agreed to try psychedelic-assisted therapy using magic mushrooms. The active compound, psilocybin, is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance currently under investigation for its potential to enhance neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to form new connections – and reduce fear responses, potentially aiding trauma survivors in processing distressing experiences within a therapeutic setting.

Hibadulin’s session took place in an unconventional setting – an apartment, rather than a clinic – due to the legal status of psilocybin in Ukraine. “I needed help now,” he emphasizes, reflecting the urgency of his situation. During the guided psilocybin session, he focused on the intention of “heal cycle,” describing a profound experience of ego dissolution and a sense of reunion. “I thought ‘I’m dead.’ So my ego was dead and I didn’t feel my body in this world. It seemed like I was going to heaven,” he recalls.

Since November 2021, Hibadulin reports being free from panic attacks and has discontinued antidepressant use. His story, although deeply personal, underscores a broader challenge: the immense scale of trauma resulting from the ongoing war and the demand to explore innovative treatment options.

Navigating Legal and Logistical Hurdles

The path to integrating PAT into Ukraine’s mental healthcare system is fraught with obstacles. Currently, psilocybin is classified as a controlled substance under Ukrainian law, making it illegal. Rescheduling the substance for clinical trials would necessitate new legislation and coordination with law enforcement, including Ukraine’s security service, the SBU. The Ukrainian Psychedelic Research Association (UPRA), a non-profit organization, is actively advocating for the legalization of psychedelic substances for the treatment of PTSD, particularly for those who have not responded to conventional therapies.

“We need to negotiate the rules with the police and the medics and the state in general,” says Oleg Orlov, co-founder and board chair of UPRA. “By the time we write all the rules and build it glance perfect, you will have no one to heal, I guess, because it takes too much time.” UPRA, along with the International Foundation “Renaissance,” hosted a roundtable in Kyiv in February to discuss the “regulatory challenges and ways of implementing psychedelic-assisted therapy in Ukraine.”

Orlov highlights the dual challenges of establishing detailed regulations for research involving Schedule I substances and training a sufficient number of specialists. He estimates that approximately 600 full-time specialists would be required to address the scale of trauma in Ukraine, but training is hampered by the ongoing war. Practical concerns also exist, including secure storage of substances and the need for safe, controlled environments for clinical trials, as well as addressing the social stigma surrounding mental health treatment.

Ketamine Trials Offer a Parallel Path

While psilocybin faces legal hurdles, research into ketamine-assisted therapy is progressing more readily. Ketamine is classified as an anesthetic in Ukraine, making it legal for research purposes. Trials evaluating ketamine for PTSD treatment at Dr. Vladislav Matrenitsky’s clinic have been approved by Ukraine’s Ministry of Health. According to the clinic’s website, ketamine increases the brain’s neuroplasticity, potentially regenerating synaptic connections damaged by stress and depression.

Dr. Matrenitsky, founder of the Center for Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Psychedelic Medicine Expo in Kyiv, notes that researchers began paying closer attention to psychedelic medicine as evidence of its effectiveness in treating depression and trauma emerged. Since the war began, his clinic has experienced a surge in patients suffering from PTSD, anxiety, and panic. Clinical trials involving ketamine-assisted group therapy are currently underway, supported by a Scottish charity, with seven veterans participating.

Integration is Key

All mental health specialists interviewed emphasized that psychedelic-assisted therapy is most effective when combined with conventional forms of psychotherapy. Psychedelic therapy is not a standalone solution. “We often have to inform people that we are not going to just give drugs to veterans,” Orlov says. “Psychedelics are a part of caring for mental health,” he adds, stressing the importance of integration. “I personally think that you can integrate psychedelics and EMDR, psychedelics and cognitive behavioral therapy. Just psychedelics will not do it for you.”

Despite the challenges, there is a sense of cautious optimism. “It’s an ultimate goal to build a system that will be able to provide a million psychedelic therapy sessions to Ukrainians. I don’t know when we are going to reach this goal, but it’s quite possible,” Orlov says. “We have no choice.”

Natalie Leticia Gallón is a journalist who covered the war in Ukraine from the start for CNN. Now working independently, she focuses on long-form journalism that elevates marginalized voices.

Her reporting was supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Women on the Ground: Reporting from Ukraine’s Unseen Frontlines Initiative in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

Olha Konovalova and Dzvinka Pinchuk contributed to this report.