The article illustrates the enduring impact of drone warfare on Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, highlighting how the sounds associated with drones perpetuate panic and stress long after the frontline experience has ended.
**Sounds of Warfare: The Psychological Toll of Drones on Ukrainian Soldiers and Civilians**
**Sounds of Warfare: The Psychological Toll of Drones on Ukrainian Soldiers and Civilians**
In Kyiv, former drone operator Pavlo shares his harrowing experiences of drone warfare and its haunting aftermath on mental health, revealing a new psychological trauma known as "droneophobia."
In Ukraine, former soldiers grapple with the haunting sounds of drone warfare, caught between civilian life and the omnipresent reminders of combat.
As Pavlo, a 30-year-old drone operator, returns to his Kyiv apartment, the memories of the frontlines rush back, haunted by the buzzing drones that hunted him and his comrades. The high-pitched whine of small, maneuverable FPVs (first-person view drones) has become a constant reminder of the danger he faced daily in combat. The trauma is not merely physical; many returning soldiers suffer from severe psychological injuries, and the term "droneophobia" has been coined to describe the debilitating fear and anxiety stemming from their experiences.
"I don't like to go into nature anymore and hear this sound," Pavlo confesses. The soundscape of everyday life serves as a tragic reminder of combat, turning familiar, innocent sounds, such as motorcycles or lawnmowers, into sources of panic. Dr. Serhii Andriichenko, chief psychiatrist at a military hospital, notes the psychological burden has never been more present, as the vast majority of returning soldiers battle mental health issues related to their experiences under drone activity.
Fellow soldier Savur, who bears the scars of an FPV attack, echoes Pavlo's sentiments, explaining how the continuous, drone-like sounds filled their days on the frontlines. Memories of innocence are shattered as even silence becomes anxiety-inducing, with soldiers becoming hyper-aware of their surroundings and triggered by mundane urban sounds.
The use of drones has radically transformed warfare. Commander Nazar Bokhii recalls how the beeping of his units’ drones often psychologically terrorized opposing soldiers, making them vulnerable to attacks. The unrelenting threat of drone warfare has expanded the danger zone, leading soldiers to remain vigilant even well behind the combat lines.
Meanwhile, civilians in drone-stricken regions, like Kherson, endure their own version of trauma. Dmytro Olifirenko, a border guard, illustrates how the ordinary sounds of everyday life intertwine with the terror of drone strikes. The threat isn't contained within the battlefield; it has breached the safety of urban life, fostering a culture of fear as residents brace for the buzzing that could signal an impending attack.
Amidst this turmoil, a chilling reality remains clear: for those like Pavlo and Dmytro, it is not merely the threat of the drones that terrifies, but the insidious nature of sound itself—an invisible specter of warfare that alters their perceptions and redefines their existence, reminding them of their past battles in every moment of silence.
As Pavlo, a 30-year-old drone operator, returns to his Kyiv apartment, the memories of the frontlines rush back, haunted by the buzzing drones that hunted him and his comrades. The high-pitched whine of small, maneuverable FPVs (first-person view drones) has become a constant reminder of the danger he faced daily in combat. The trauma is not merely physical; many returning soldiers suffer from severe psychological injuries, and the term "droneophobia" has been coined to describe the debilitating fear and anxiety stemming from their experiences.
"I don't like to go into nature anymore and hear this sound," Pavlo confesses. The soundscape of everyday life serves as a tragic reminder of combat, turning familiar, innocent sounds, such as motorcycles or lawnmowers, into sources of panic. Dr. Serhii Andriichenko, chief psychiatrist at a military hospital, notes the psychological burden has never been more present, as the vast majority of returning soldiers battle mental health issues related to their experiences under drone activity.
Fellow soldier Savur, who bears the scars of an FPV attack, echoes Pavlo's sentiments, explaining how the continuous, drone-like sounds filled their days on the frontlines. Memories of innocence are shattered as even silence becomes anxiety-inducing, with soldiers becoming hyper-aware of their surroundings and triggered by mundane urban sounds.
The use of drones has radically transformed warfare. Commander Nazar Bokhii recalls how the beeping of his units’ drones often psychologically terrorized opposing soldiers, making them vulnerable to attacks. The unrelenting threat of drone warfare has expanded the danger zone, leading soldiers to remain vigilant even well behind the combat lines.
Meanwhile, civilians in drone-stricken regions, like Kherson, endure their own version of trauma. Dmytro Olifirenko, a border guard, illustrates how the ordinary sounds of everyday life intertwine with the terror of drone strikes. The threat isn't contained within the battlefield; it has breached the safety of urban life, fostering a culture of fear as residents brace for the buzzing that could signal an impending attack.
Amidst this turmoil, a chilling reality remains clear: for those like Pavlo and Dmytro, it is not merely the threat of the drones that terrifies, but the insidious nature of sound itself—an invisible specter of warfare that alters their perceptions and redefines their existence, reminding them of their past battles in every moment of silence.
