280 cases of sexual violence by Russian occupiers are being investigated in Ukraine — Iryna Yuzyk

On 28 May, ZMINA project manager Iryna Yuzyk joined a discussion on wartime violence organised by the Kharkiv Women Association Sphere. The event was attended by representatives of the Kharkiv public sector. 

According to Yuzyk, 280 criminal proceedings are currently being investigated in Ukraine regarding sexual violence by the Russian occupiers against Ukrainian women and men.

“Victims: 179 women and 101 men. These were the latest public figures as of the end of March. In reality, there are many more victims – there are already some and there are likely to be more. Currently, there are 403 women in Russian captivity. We as a society, and especially the media, must be very sensitive and careful when covering these topics,” said Iryna Yuzyk.

Yuzyk believes that journalists should focus on the interests of the victim, their safety and emotional state when creating materials on this topic.

“Until recently, the narrative of “it’s all her fault” was widespread in our patriarchal society. But with the outbreak of the full-scale invasion and mass rapes during the occupation, this narrative is finally becoming a thing of the past. It’s a pity that this is happening in such a difficult way,” the expert said.

The discussion was also attended by Kharkiv media personality Maryna Nikolaieva and La Strada-Ukraine employee Alyona Kryvulyak.