Voluntourism in Ukraine during the russo-ukrainian war: realities and trends

The full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has led to significant changes in the country’s tourism sector, resulting in the emergence of new types of tourism and forms of civic engagement. One such phenomenon is voluntourism – a combination of volunteering and travel aimed at supporting socially important initiatives, including assistance to the military and forcibly displaced persons; organizing and providing leisure and recreation for vulnerable groups of the population; as well as eliminating the consequences of hostilities, supporting national cultural heritage, and more. The article aims to assess the current state and development trends of voluntourism in wartime Ukraine by analyzing domestic and international practices. The study employs a comparative method, content analysis of institutional data, and case studies of volunteer initiatives. The authors identify a lack of comprehensive quantitative research on voluntourism and propose an initial attempt to address this gap. The key findings highlight the evolution of the Ukrainian volunteer movement, presenting the country’s recovery, the reaffirmation of Ukrainian identity, and the strengthening of national unity through the lens of voluntourism. The article provides an overview of academic definitions of the term "voluntourism," clarifying its conceptual boundaries. It identifies regional differences in the level of volunteer activity across Ukraine. The main forms of volunteering are classified, and the quantitative dynamics before and during the full-scale russian invasion are analyzed, along with the age structure and educational level of Ukrainian volunteers. The study also emphasizes international experience in promoting volunteerism and the role of national and international organizations in its development. The scientific novelty lies in the contextualization of voluntourism within the realities of ongoing war and its positioning as a driver of social resilience and regional recovery. The practical value of the research is demonstrated through the identification of strategic priorities for integrating voluntourism into national recovery programs and civil society development.