Ukraine faces a severe demographic crisis worsened by war casualties and refugee outflows. To address this, the government offers free sperm freezing to soldiers. Maxim, a National Guard soldier near the frontline, shared, "Our men are dying. The Ukrainian gene pool is dying. This is about the survival of our nation." He froze his sperm in Kyiv after returning on leave so his wife can try for a child should anything happen. Private clinics started offering cryopreservation in 2022. In 2023, Ukraine's parliament regulated and funded the program. MP Oksana Dmitrieva said, "Our soldiers are defending our future, but may lose their own, so we wanted to give them that chance." Originally, a law required samples to be destroyed on a soldier's death, sparking outcry. It was later amended so samples are stored for 3 years posthumously and can be used by partners with consent. The conflict has killed many young men and caused millions of women to flee as refugees. Fertility clinics report fewer pregnancies and stress-related health issues. "About 60% of my patients are on anti-depressants," said Oksana Holikova, head of Kyiv's Centre for Reproductive Medicine. Katerina Malyshko's husband Vitaly was killed last winter. She fought a legal battle to use his frozen embryos. "I felt joy and grief at the same time because I'd had to fight for my rights," she said. Soldiers like Maxim urge more to use the program, saying, "Because maybe tomorrow, I'm suddenly gone. But my wife will have my sperm and can use it. It's one less thing for me to worry about." Officials hope more men will join the program as awareness grows. The law is set for further amendments this spring to resolve ongoing issues.