Ukraine's Other Battle: Healing the Invisible Wounds of War

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is presented as a possible way to address Ukraine's growing mental health crisis after years of war, with the focus on PTSD and trauma-related conditions. The piece centers on Stanislav Hibadulin, a Ukrainian veteran who says psilocybin helped end his panic attacks after a guided session in November 2021, in an underground setting because psilocybin remains illegal in Ukraine. It also outlines the practical and legal hurdles to running legitimate trials, including the need for rescheduling or new legislation, coordination with police and state agencies, and building training capacity and clinical infrastructure during wartime. The article contrasts the situation with ketamine, which is described as legal in Ukraine because it is classified as an anesthetic, enabling approved PTSD research, while Ukrainian advocates and organizations like UPRA push for faster pathways to psychedelic research and clinical use.