Publication in the Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique

      "There will never be enough words to describe what you have been through, but I hope this helps. Thank you so much for your time and courage, for your work, you are so brave and strong, I do admire you all," - Belgian journalist Virginie Nguen wrote to the women of SEMA Ukraine.

      "Depuis 2014, les femmes agressées sexuellement par les soldats russessont toujours en quête d'un statut", article published in the Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique, September 27, 2023. Thanks again to Gilles Toussaint for trust, Pauline Deglum for proofreading, Gaelle Girbes for their help and special thanks to SEMA Ukraine, Iryna, Halyna and Liudmyla, who agreed to testify and tell their stories.

"Since the russian invasion in February 2022, acts of sexual violence against women have continued to become known as soon as the Ukrainian army deliberates the territory. This war crime is characteristic of the troops from Moscow and their close associates with the separatists since the beginning of the war in Donbas in 2014. This article is the testimony of several women who do not want to be seen as victims but as women fighters.

"At this point, we know maybe 10% of all the women who are interested."

Halyna, a victim of rape by a russian soldier in March 2022.

This is a very important article to remember that sexual abuse by russians started back in 2014 and increased after the massive invasion. This is a systematic weapon of war that they have used for years, and every single piece of evidence is essential to documenting all war crimes and bringing the russians to justice. These women have the strength to speak about it because they know that it will be important to punish all the perpetrators, and it is also important that these women have legal status in Ukraine. It takes years to recover from such trauma psychologically, sometimes it's impossible, but they have to live with it and need appropriate help.

      I admire Iryna, Halyna, and Liudmyla for their strength and fight for other women who have suffered from sexual violence. While you are reading this post, there is probably a woman, a girl in the occupied territories of Ukraine who became a victim of sexual violence by the russians. Unfortunately, as long as the russians remain in Ukraine, we will hear many more such horror stories.

Photo 1: Kyiv: 61-year-old journalist Liudmila poses in an apartment in Kyiv. Liudmila was in Donetsk prison for 3 years, where she was tortured and sexually abused by russian executioners.