Will Ukraine become a "Mongolian desert" after the war? A sociologist shares insights on the future landscape and its potential challenges.

Many Ukrainian settlements have been devastated due to military actions. However, according to Oleksandr Gladun, Deputy Director for Research at the Institute of Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, this region will not turn into a "Mongolian wasteland." He reported this in an interview with "TSN."

"Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) are already expressing a desire to return to their former places of residence, but they face a significant challenge regarding housing," said Oleksandr Gladun.

He believes that the destroyed areas will not be heavily populated in the post-war period. Before the onset of the full-scale invasion, urbanization was taking place in these regions, and the rural population was gradually decreasing. Employment in agriculture also declined due to increased labor productivity. Thus, according to Gladun, on one hand, there is an "objective process," and on the other, the "consequences of military actions."

"After the war concludes, we need to conduct a population census to understand the number of residents in the region, especially its demographic structure, educational level, and more. We need to actively engage with IDPs to determine whether they wish to return to their previous homes. Moreover, if we consider the economy, in case of a labor shortage, we should encourage the movement of people to these regions," he explained.

The demographer emphasized that "it cannot be the case that a vast territory in Ukraine remains a desert," specifically noting that this reflects "incorrect policies regarding population resettlement." However, most issues will be addressed after the war ends.

On January 24, it was reported that in Ukraine, the average life expectancy of men has decreased from 65 to 57 years. The country also ranked among the leaders for having the lowest birth rate in the world.