Another huge part will be the many Ukrainians, who moved to the Western parts of the country. Especially in combination with the destruction of the war, we likely see the east loosing a lot more population when it is all done.
Also it will be intressting to see what happens to Russia. Their problem is not on the same scale, but imho it is much more likely that the Russians who fleed the war will never return, while there also is a good chance that if Russia looses, the economy will be a complete disaster, whereas Ukraine getting at least some help from the West. So it seems likely to me that a lot of Russians leave the country at that point as well.
if Russia looses, the economy will be a complete disaster
Their economy is and will be a disaster no matter how the war ends. They’ve spent everything and then some. Their reserves are gone, their currency became worthless, they lost a million+ of skilled workers, and Europe has all but stopped buying their resources. They’re completely fucked. The way things look now, there will be another perestroika.
Babies born now won’t be the ones rebuilding the country. They’ll be the ones growing up in bombed landscapes and suffering from both the traumas their parents have and ones they get while the war continues.
My grandma was born during WW2. She was still a child when many of Germany‘s cities were leveled. It was normal to her. Daily life. But people moved on. They rebuilt the country and grandma lived through the most prosperous times our country has ever seen. And she did her part in it, working in a factory and raising several children. It wasn‘t always easy but she has a good life and is pretty healthy for her age.
My mum has a story of her playing hide and seek in Vienne while Russian soldiers were shooting at what remained of the Nazi army. Apparently she thought it was fun. Children are strange…
The difference being, Germany was/is a democratic country benefiting from foreign investment. Russia is the opposite. The countries are not comparable.