Documenting Disruption: Everyday Life During Times of War

Written by Hubspot Author | Sep 25, 2025 3:19:47 PM

In September 2025, Verian hosted a webinar with The Mass Observation Archive to explore the significant impact of war on everyday life, focusing on displaced Ukrainians from Verian’s Voice of Ukraine study, and drawing historical parallels with British experiences during World War II from Mass Observation archives.

Living through war: Insights from displaced Ukrainians

Yves Fradier, Director of Evidence at Verian France, and Oriane Darres, Researcher at Verian, presented findings from the study. This initiative has collected over 12,000 responses across ten waves, offering insights into the socio-economic and emotional trajectories of displaced Ukrainians in Europe.

Findings from the latest wave of research include:

A significant increase in employment as a primary source of income among respondents in three years (from 31% to 60%) and a decline in reliance on savings (39% to 21%).
A shift in housing stability, with tenancy in private rented accommodation rising from 40% to 62% over the last three years.
Changing perceptions of the war’s outcome, with declining confidence in Ukrainian victory (Wave 1: 71% to Wave 10: 13%) and increasing acceptance of territorial concessions (4% in 2022 to 23% in 2025).
A growing number of respondents expressing intent to settle outside Ukraine permanently (34% in Wave 10 compared to 8% in Wave 1).

The impact of war on relationship dynamics

Yves Fradier delved into the impact of war on couple relationships. The study revealed:

Between February 2022 and July 2024, in comparison to EU27*,
- A notable rise in first-time divorces, occurring more than Europeans (Respondents – 3.5%, EU27- 0.5%)
- Widowhood rates were higher than Europeans (Respondents – 1.7%, EU27 – 0.7%)
- But were 3.2 times more likely to get married (Respondents, 3.2%, EU27- 1%)
Emotional resilience and redefined relationship values, with love seen as support, construction, and a source of stability.
The emergence of new relationships with non-Ukrainians, reflecting adaptive responses to displacement.

*27 countries EU, Eurostat, weighted by the population of each country, Feb 2022-July 2024

War and Peace: Mass Observers and the end of the war in Europe, May 1945

Professor Lucy Noakes, President of the Royal Historical Society, provided historical context by examining diaries from Britain’s Mass Observation project during WWII. She highlighted:

The emotional aftermath of war and the formation of cultural memory.
Reflections on wartime unity and purpose, contrasted with post-war uncertainty.
The importance of listening to marginalised voices to inform policy and societal understanding.

Conclusion

Voice of Ukraine and Mass Observation offer powerful tools for understanding disruption and resilience. As wars reshape societies, documenting lived experiences becomes essential for shaping informed responses. This webinar engaged in the value of longitudinal and qualitative research, capturing the human experiences and dimensions of conflict. Speakers also emphasised the need for policymakers to engage with public sentiment to approach current and future challenges to war.

Documenting Disruption: Everyday Life During Times of War

Living through war: Insights from displaced Ukrainians

The impact of war on relationship dynamics

War and Peace: Mass Observers and the end of the war in Europe, May 1945

Conclusion

Watch the Webinar

Further reading