In brief
Amidst the evolving warfare in Ukraine, the omnipresent sound of drones has left profound psychological scars on both returning soldiers and civilians. With many suffering from acute stress disorders related to drone sounds, experts warn of the continuous mental health impact as the soundscape of normal life turns into a battleground of fear.
In a modest apartment in Kyiv, Pavlo, a 30-year-old drone operator back from the frontlines, reflects on the chilling sounds that have followed him home. His drone—a four-rotor model intended for indoor flights—remains silent due to a malfunction. Once a pilot of first-person view (FPV) drones on the battleground, Pavlo recalls the terror these machines instilled in him and his comrades. "You are being hunted," he describes, recounting how drones replaced heavy artillery and became the predominant weapon in contemporary warfare.Used to seek out armored vehicles and track infantry, FPV drones symbolize a haunting transformation in battlefield tactics, bringing the terrifying sounds of warfare into everyday life. Even common sounds—motors, air conditioners, and lawnmowers—trigger memories of the high-pitched whine associated with drones. Pavlo admits, "I don't like to go into nature anymore... because it reminds me so hard of the drones."The effects of this auditory trauma, now termed "droneophobia," are being reported widely by mental health professionals. Dr. Serhii Andriichenko, head psychiatrist at Kyiv's military hospital, highlights the emergence of mental health disorders among soldiers who have been subjected to constant drone activity. Many returning soldiers, like Savur, who lost an arm to a drone strike, struggle with acute stress, associating blending mechanical noises with warfare."Silence is always the start," Dr. Andriichenko explains the heightened alertness soldiers experience in and out of combat zones. The war's psychological toll extends beyond the front, as veterans often find themselves reacting to benign sounds they associate with danger. Nazar Bokhii, a drone commander, shares his near-fatal experience with drones, emphasizing how the psychological manipulation of sound not only terrorizes enemies but permeates the psyche of returning troops.The droning nightmare is not confined to combat zones. Civilians, particularly in cities like Kherson, are now frequent victims of drone strikes, which have instilled a pervasive sense of danger. Residents like Dmytro Olifirenko describe how they now live in a constant state of vigilance, with drone sounds permeating every facet of life. “There is no such thing as a safe place anymore,” Olifirenko states, echoing the anxiety felt throughout his city, now marred by violence.As life continues amidst this draconian backdrop, the psychological scars of drone warfare linger heavily. The fear a soldier experiences in combat transforms into an ever-vigilant state of anxiety in civilian life, turning everyday environments into potential traps. Pavlo’s encapsulating observation that the world can suddenly become a battlefield underscores the insidious hold these sounds have on those who deal with the trauma of war—a haunting echo that travels with them long after they have left the frontlines.
