After captivity, where every day was a struggle for survival and human dignity, this woman became an example of resilience, inner strength, and recovery. Her abduction was not accidental, as Yuliia (name changed for security reasons) worked in the local government and openly supported Ukraine. It was for this reason that she was detained, using brutal methods of pressure.
From the very first moments of her captivity, the woman was intimidated by references to her children, whom she might never see again. Yuliia was held in inhumane conditions: an isolated cell without the bare necessities, suffocating stench, and psychological and physical pressure. The enemy soldiers constantly subjected her to physical and psychological violence. She also survived conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). They wanted to break her, but they failed.
Yuliia managed to escape from captivity and reach the territory controlled by Ukraine. There, at an event for internally displaced persons, she met the mobile team of the NGO Girls for the first time. It was then that she met a case manager who helped Yuliia take her first steps toward recovery from deep psychological trauma.
The woman gradually began to feel stable again. She received psychological support, which enabled her to begin to heal. Yuliia was provided with financial assistance for long-term housing rental, which allowed her to create a safe environment for herself and her children. Thanks to legal assistance, she is applying for the “civilian hostage” status, which is an important step towards legal recognition of her experiences. Yuliia's daughter, who also suffered severe stress, has been given access to organized leisure activities, which have enabled her to gradually return to a normal childhood.
Most importantly, the woman found the strength to start a new life. She is undergoing retraining in logistics, which is a new but interesting field that opens up prospects for her future career. In addition, Yuliia joined a partner organization's program to receive reparations and physical rehabilitation for women who have survived sexual violence in captivity.
Yuliia's story is not only about the cruelty she faced, but above all about the strength of spirit, community support, and the importance of professional help. Thanks to a comprehensive approach, interagency cooperation, and sensitive support from her case manager, the woman's life has gradually returned to balance. Today, she is strong and ready to move forward for the sake of her children and her own future.
The assistance is provided within the project “Strengthening Access and Service Provision for SRH Support and GBV Prevention among Conflict-Affected Women and Girls in Eastern and Southern Ukraine” in cooperation with the international humanitarian organization CARE, with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office.
