Psychological Support for Military Personnel in Combat Conditions: Contemporary Challenges

The article examines the pressing issues of psychological support for military personnel in combat conditions, focusing on combat stress, emotional burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychological consequences of war. The need for comprehensive reform of the moral and psychological support (MPS) system in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) is emphasized, advocating a transition towards full-fledged psychological assistance for service members. Key challenges faced by military personnel during combat missions are analysed, along with proposed solutions The key directions for improving the system of psychological support for military personnel include the modernization of approaches to the psychological training of command staff, the implementation of digital technologies in psychological support, the expansion of information and propaganda efforts, and the development of a crisis psychological assistance network. New methods for monitoring the psycho-emotional state of military personnel using digital platforms, automated diagnostic systems, and mobile applications are suggested. The crucial role of commanders, military psychologists, and chaplains in psychological support is highlighted, stressing the need for their specialized training. Special attention is given to developing programs for psychological adaptation of service members after combat experience. The article reviews global practices in military psychological support, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, crisis intervention, and psychological preparation for extreme conditions. The study concludes that an effective psychological support system is a key factor in maintaining the combat readiness of the Ukrainian army. Recommendations are made for further research on the psychological rehabilitation of military personnel and the integration of advanced international practices into Ukraine’s military psychology framework. The necessity of creating a unified psychological support system for military personnel at all stages of service—ranging from training to demobilization and subsequent social adaptation—is substantiated.