Amidst the protracted war between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian soldiers are relying on energy drinks, which contain large amounts of caffeine.
According to a report by The New York Times (NYT) on the 8th (local time), since the outbreak of the Ukrainian war in February 2022, energy drink sales in Ukraine have surged by about 50%. Although the domestic market in Ukraine has collapsed, energy drinks have shown a contrasting trend.
The NYT analyzed this phenomenon, saying, “Ukrainian soldiers, buried in trenches and struggling to survive, will give up coffee, soda, and even water for the energy drinks they need to keep moving on the battlefield.”
One Ukrainian soldier shared with the media, “I drink energy drinks when I get up in the morning, when I go on guard duty, and before I go into battle.” According to the NYT, the Morshynska beverage factory located in western Ukraine is producing energy drinks at a rate of 16,000 cans per hour.
Ukrainian beverage companies are also reflecting the increased demand for energy drinks in their patriotic marketing. For instance, IDS Ukraine launched an energy drink in January 2023 called Volia, meaning freedom and will in Ukrainian, and donated 40,000 cans to the military.
However, health issues due to excessive caffeine consumption are a concern. A study published in the March issue of Heart Rhythm, the official journal of the American Heart Rhythm Society, stated that patients with hereditary cardiovascular diseases have a higher risk of acute cardiac arrest within 12 hours of drinking energy drinks containing caffeine.
A Ukrainian army sergeant said, “One of the older soldiers who had a heart condition died last winter, I think drinking 10 cans of energy drinks a day in the unit may have had an effect. He was found collapsed in the bathroom with an energy drink in his hand.”
