Ukrainian women start speaking out about wartime sexual assault

Ukrainian women are beginning to speak out about sexual assault during the war, a shift from previous silence due to stigma. Survivors like Liudmyla, Tetyana, and Alisa Kovalenko have held meetings to raise awareness in the Kherson region. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, prosecutors have recorded over 344 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, with 220 involving women, including 16 minors. This marks a growing recognition of the issue among survivors and the community. The discussions aim to address the painful reality of sexual violence in the conflict, which has been largely unreported due to societal pressures in Ukraine.