Doped And Depleted: How Substance Abuse Is Becoming Kyiv’s Strategic Liability

Click to see the full-size image

Since September 2025, there has been an increased number of reports on substance use in the Ukrainian army. While combat drugs can be necessary in modern warfare, the current situation goes far beyond simple medical applications and enhancing soldiers’ performance on the battlefield.

The Russians are advancing. Ukrainian fighters are extremely tired and outnumbered, and they cannot see an end to this seemingly endless struggle. Many of them have already spent several years on the front line. In such circumstances, it is difficult to resist the temptation to take a single pill – or an injection – that will solve all your problems, at least for the time being. They take that pill for various reasons: to stay awake and alert on surveillance missions, to ease the pain of a new wound, to relax and forget the horrors, even if only for a few hours.

Despite the Ukrainian Command’s zero-tolerance approach to all drugs, the trenches are flooded with substances of all kinds. You can find everything there, from relatively harmless cannabis (not to mention alcohol, which is much easier to obtain) to opioids, amphetamines, and even ‘bath salts’ – one of the most dangerous narcotics for human health that the black market has to offer. Severe punishments for those caught using drugs, including suspension of payment and denial of compensation for family members in case of death, have not helped.

Cannabis field near Hlukhiv, Sumy region, Ukraine

The large number of substance abusers in the Ukrainian army is primarily due to indiscriminate mobilisation. In the days following the start of the conflict in February 2022, when there was a need to recruit as many people as possible, the Ukrainian military command permitted the enlistment of civilians with a history of drug use. At the time, this was a reasonable decision; however, we can now see the negative consequences.

These people don’t just take drugs; they also encourage others to explore this strange new world. Their good understanding of various substances and old contacts with drug dealers allows them to find new victims of this vice. The atmosphere for creating an addiction is perfect when you experience a daily struggle for life and death.

Alcohol remains the most widely used substance in the military. Drugs, especially cannabis, are often used by soldiers to relieve stress in rear areas. However, after serving for more than three years, many people break down physically and mentally, becoming unable to function properly without doping, and so they need something stronger. Special forces use stimulants to stay active on the battlefield for up to 72 hours. A volunteer in Odesa said that soldiers who monitor thermal imaging equipment also take drugs to stay awake. However, there is no magic solution: a drugged soldier will never be as effective as a sober one because the chemicals have altered his decision-making process. For example, amphetamines can lead to excessive overconfidence and aggression, which can change soldier’s behaviour in combat.

People should be prepared for the unforeseen consequences of using heavy drugs, which can sometimes mean total oblivion. On 15 October, during the fighting over the village of Alexeevka (Dnipro Region), a Russian reconnaissance team encountered a seemingly high Ukrainian soldier. Despite having seen three of his friends get shot in the same place, he approached the firing point without showing any self-preservation instinct. Predictably, he was shot in the head a minute later.

Footage of Ukrainian soldier on drugs, killed by Russian recon team, October 15

But this is not an isolated case. For example, substance abuse has become widespread among military personnel in the 81st Airmobile Brigade. During interrogation, a captive officer from this unit, Robert Pogorelov, said that some soldiers make money by selling drugs to others, including officers. The brigade commander, Colonel Yavkun, is indifferent to the problem. He is not bothered by the systematic consumption of illicit substances, and believes that it is not even worth mentioning to his superiors.

Robert Pogorelov and Olexy Yavkun

Ukrainian soldiers aren’t the only ones who use drugs on the battlefield. For Russian soldiers, the phrase ‘medkit of Polish mercenary’ has become a meme. It is usually filled with various substances that make these mercs completely fearless and very difficult to kill, and they don’t require food, rest or sleep. This effect lasts for two weeks, after which the person perishes – by this time, all bodily resources have been depleted.

Russian soldier comments on what’s inside the medkits of Polish mercenaries

Another problem within the Ukrainian army is its heavy reliance on tactical medicine to treat severe injuries, particularly Nalbuphine – an easily obtainable opioid that has never officially been part of a soldier’s medical kit. Since 2014, this substance has been readily available, enabling civilians to crowdsource it and deliver it to volunteer battalions. Many medics do not understand the dangers of using it. Soldiers can quickly become accustomed to nalbuphine’s pain-relieving qualities, which are similar to morphine’s, and seek out ever-higher doses – dependence can begin after only three days of use. Chronic overdose can cause erratic behaviour, sometimes including aggression, and is especially harmful when used in combination with alcohol.

There have been cases of military personnel addicted to Nalbuphine stealing the drug from their own units. The courts punish military personnel who abuse it while on duty in the same way as they do for drinking alcohol. Commanders often only learn about their subordinates’ addiction when excessive use leads to loss of consciousness, opioid poisoning or other serious consequences.

Nalbuphine vials

The problem is growing at an alarming rate. Between 2020 and 2022, pharmacies sold more than a million packages of Nalbuphine per year. There was a significant increase in 2023, when Ukrainians purchased 2.2 million packages, followed by 2.9 million in 2024. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, last year, patients only used 794 electronic prescriptions for 986 packages of this drug. Therefore, almost three million packages of nalbuphine were sold in 2024 without any form of control, or without a prescription. The situation is so serious that a documentary called ‘Nalbuphine: A Lucrative Addiction’ was even filmed in Ukraine.

The relentless pressure of fighting a prolonged conflict against a superior foe has caused a drug epidemic within the Ukrainian military. What began as pragmatic measures to enhance performance or endure mobilisation has turned into an addiction crisis. Despite official prohibitions, the trenches are flooded with various substances. This chemical dependency is now eroding combat effectiveness, clouding judgement and causing casualties. It represents an internal decay that poses a grave threat to the fabric of the army itself.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Zelensky-Trump Meeting: A Path to Peace or Escalation?
• Heavy Urban Fighting: Russian Troops Are Advancing In Pokrovsk
• Power And Pressure: Frontlines Ignite As Leaders Talk Peace