TO Would givesome russian soldiers They raped her repeatedly 2022already Alissaan official Russian in 2014. They are two of the ukrainian who dared to fight the stigma so that the world would know their case and encourage other victims to break the silence. The harsh words of Daria Zymenkoan illustrator of 33 years, contrast with her petite figure, pale complexion and reserved countenance. A few days ago, she made a strong impression during a press conference organized in Paris by NGO SEMA Ukrainewhich helps Ukrainian women victims of rape by Russian soldiers.
Five women recounted their experience, giving an account of the torture and sexual violence carried out by the Russian army among 2014 -when Moscow annexed the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea– and 2023one year after Russia began the invasion of Ukraine.
“In Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Mass rapes perpetrated by Russian soldiers show a will to destroy Ukrainian society”, especially so that women do not have more Ukrainian children, the organizations denounce.
“These violations, which began in 2014number in the thousands, and mainly affect women, but also children and men, civilians or soldiers detained in Russian prisons,” they point out.
Calculating the exact number of violations is difficult, since NGOs “do not have access to the occupied territories,” he noted. Iryna Dovgana ukrainian of 62 years native of Donetskin the east of the country, who founded and directs the NGO SEMA Ukraine. She was also raped by russian soldiers in 2014 and, according to him, there would be “thousands” of cases like his. The Attorney General’s Office Ukraine claims that it recorded 301 incidents of sexual crimes “committed by the Russian occupiers” since the invasion began. Russia She has been accused of multiple war crimes in Ukraine, which she systematically denies.
“It is very painful to talk… but today I think it is necessary to explain what I experienced, because Russia continues to torture people and commit sexual crimes every day in Ukraine”he claimed Would give to AFP.
On February 24, 2022when the first explosions occurred in the suburbs of Kyivat the beginning of the Russian offensive against Ukraine, Daria ran for refuge in Gavronshchyna, his parents’ village, near the capital. But the Russian army captured the town. Shortly after, some soldiers “drunk and armed with rifles” broke into the family home and demanded that Would give followed them “for interrogation.” “My family implored them […] But they pointed their weapons at us, saying that if I didn’t go with them, they would kill us,” he said.
On March 28, she was taken to an abandoned house and the soldiers asked her to undress. “There I understood that it was not an interrogation: they raped me for two hours”. When he returned to his parents’ house, the expression of desperation that was reflected on his face did not go unnoticed, and he preferred to “shut up.” A day later, the soldiers returned “for the same thing…” explained the thirty-year-old, between sighs, with her eyes misted with tears. The next day, the army ukrainian “It arrived fortunately.”
“I want the whole world to know, for people to see me as a living person and not as a mere statistic!”he pointed Would give. For her, it is “extremely important to speak out on behalf of people who cannot give their testimony” because they are in occupied territories or for fear of being stigmatized.
Another victim Alissa Kovalenkoof 36 yearsI travel to Paris from Kyiv to tell his case. He is a member of SEMA Ukraine since its foundation, in 2019. Her serious look and combative personality are illuminated from time to time by her sincere smile. Alissaa well-known documentary filmmaker who has won several international awards, has just finished her latest film, “Huellas,” about rape victims who are members of the NGO.
“Even today, I would say that 80% of women who are victims of rape remain silent,” she said. Alissa to AFP. “But the 20% that speaks is already a victory.”
While working on a film in the region of Donetsk in 2014, Alissawho was still a student, was detained by pro-Russian separatists.
“I came out [de la región] by taxi” on May 15, 2014“And it was the driver who reported me to the separatists at a checkpoint, saying that shortly before he had been with the Ukrainian military,” he said. Alissa.
“They took me out of the car and interrogated me” for several hours, he said. They even threatened to cut off “her ears, her fingers.”
For three days, an officer – Russian, according to her – held her in an apartment in Kramatorsk. “She forced me to take off my clothes, get into a bathtub and then raped me,” she explained. During years, Alissa She was unable to tell her family, who found out about her rape much later.
According to SEMA Ukrainemore and more victims are breaking the silence in that country, where sexual violence is taboo.
In the villages where the association has carried out awareness campaigns, there used to be “a mentality of shame and stigma regarding rape victims, but changes are being seen and people help each other more,” according to Iryna Dovgan.
“Women are also agreeing to speak more because Russian aggression does not end […] and other women run the risk of being attacked: it is our cry and our request for help”he added.
Would give He indicated that he decided to “first forget that horrible experience,” but anxiety attacks were frequent. Later, she got psychological help through SEMA Ukraine. He filed a complaint abroad but preferred not to say in which country.
Alissa Nor has it had any type of assistance from the Ukrainian State but in 2019 She met the founder of the NGO and other “survivors” of rape, and then she became aware of “that dark stain, that trauma that had remained inside me.” He filed a complaint with the attorney general of Ukraine.
“You don’t heal from an experience like that. […]You may simply feel better.”considered Alissawho, he said, still has nightmares.
(With information from AFP)
