Chapter 9. Conceptions of Ukraine's Future and Ukrainian-Russian Relations in the Post-War Period: A Narrative Analysis

Abstract: Based on 193 in-depth interviews with civilians, migrants, and military personnel, this section investigates narrative frames of the future at the individual level. The study finds complex configurations of expectations where individuals block negative personal futures while maintaining varied scenarios for the country. Post-war relations with Russia are framed through "enemies forever," "permanent war," or "distancing," driven by the impossibility of forgiveness and the destruction of the "brotherhood" myth. The analysis suggests that the "independence generation" is becoming the primary carrier of war-related trauma through intergenerational transmission.