Transformation of Ukrainian national identity under the conditions of the Russian–Ukrainian war

Abstract

The article analyzes the transformation of Ukrainian national identity in the context of the Russian–Ukrainian war. Although national identity is generally a conservative phenomenon, the study shows that war has significantly accelerated changes in civic self-identification, language practices, value orientations, and religious affiliation. Special attention is given to the strengthening of Ukrainocentric and Eurocentric identity models, the decline of Soviet and pro-Russian narratives, and the growing role of the Ukrainian language as a key factor of social cohesion. Based on sociological data, the article demonstrates that the full-scale invasion of 2022 became a decisive catalyst for national consolidation and the redefinition of the symbolic boundaries of Ukrainian identity.