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In 2014, Iryna Dovgan as “Iryna from the Pole” became living proof of the crimes of the Russian occupiers in Ukraine. After pro-Russian separatists caught her helping Ukrainian troops, Dovgan was taken prisoner. She was beaten, tortured and humiliated for days. The world found out about it when the criminals took her to the center of Donetsk. First, they tied a Ukrainian flag around her, and then ordered her to stand under the “pillar of shame.” Everyone who passed by had permission to beat and humiliate her. If it weren’t for photographer Mauricio Lima, who took her photo that day, Iryna probably wouldn’t have survived. But she survived. And although this story shattered her world, it became a new beginning.
Since 2019, Dovgan, as part of the SEMA Ukraine organization, has been helping women who, like her, have gone through hell. And encourages them to talk about what they have experienced. – In a normal world, no one will be indifferent to women’s suffering. Therefore, do not remain silent. Don’t be silent and you will be a weapon. When someone is surprised that Ukrainian women openly talk about rape, they should take into account that we are at war and fighting for our lives, he emphasizes.
“They came into my yard. There were two of them”
They came to 61-year-old Galina on March 19, 2022. She had been alone for two weeks. The daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter managed to escape at the beginning of the month. She didn’t want to run away. There was her home and her life. As he remembers today, it was -5 degrees that day. The temperature inside the house was almost the same as outside. She put on as many clothes as possible so as not to freeze. There was no light, signal or working phone. That night she couldn’t sleep.
There were only two of them. One stood at the gate, the other entered the house. – He had a black balaclava and a jacket with a machine gun attached to it. Automatic magazines and grenades attached to the belt. “I’ll keep checking,” he said. I explained to them “Your people were already here, checking.” But he didn’t listen, she recalls.
Galina went out onto the terrace when the boy – who seemed to be just over 20 years old – was walking around the house. He looked around as if he was looking for something. Then she realized: he wanted to make sure she was alone.
– I was standing in the street when, after 15 minutes, he came to me and said: “Madam, come in.” I listened. When I entered, I heard the order: “Undress”. I asked, “Why? Cold outside, cold in the house.” In a short sentence he repeated: “Get undressed, or it will get even worse,” he recalls.
All she could think about was that he wouldn’t torture her. May death come quickly and painlessly. She didn’t understand that he wasn’t there to kill her. Shaking, she took off more of her clothes, and he continued to scream. She couldn’t even feel winter because of her fear. -I was completely naked. He had such happy eyes. He looked at me and it gave him pleasure. He was very happy that I was doing what he told me. He was poking me on the back and buttocks with the machine. And then he took her outside, he says.
When they went out into the street, the Russian who was guarding the gate got scared and ran away. And his friend told her to do laps around the house naked. He just shouted: “Faster, faster.” Then he led her to the unfolded couch. There was a blanket there. – When he started undressing, I understood what he wanted from me – she recalls.
After this event, she was left alone for many months. She didn’t talk to anyone about what happened to her. She didn’t ask anyone for help. – I was going through everything inside. I’ve never even cried. I was just trying to keep myself busy; flowers, plants. Then they called me from SEMA Ukraine. We talked about it on the phone, Iryna invited me to her place. I am very grateful for this. The girls pulled me out of the state I was in, she emphasizes.
Women who experienced war rape suffer in silence
It is estimated that only 6 percent A Ukrainian woman decides to talk about her traumatic experiences. Most women try to pretend that nothing happened, experiencing their tragedy in silence. – I lived for several years in my own trauma and misfortune. Nobody ever asked me about what happened. But my family understood everything because I was screaming in my sleep at night. I was completely different than before captivity, emphasizes Iryna Dovgan. When she saw women at the SEMA NETWORK meeting who had transformed their trauma into post-traumatic growth, she knew she had to act.
The SEMA NETWORK organization was founded by Congolese gynecologist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege, who, together with Nadia Murad, fought to end the use of sexual violence as a tool of war and armed conflict. War rapes take a toll on the lives of women, their families and communities. It is a weapon that is intended to help achieve military and political goals. And it is still downplayed.
Since 2019, Iryna, as part of the Ukrainian branch of the international SEMA network, has been uniting and supporting women who have experienced a nightmare. They work with psychologists and teach people who have experienced sexual violence to transform their trauma into post-traumatic development. In addition, they document testimonies and inform the public about the occupiers’ crimes. They strive to bring those responsible for sexual violence to court.
Iryna and Galina were the heroines of the program ‘Woman at the End of the World’ Photo Mariusz Janiszewski / TVN
Iryna and Galina were the heroines of the third episode of the new season “Woman at the End of the World”. Martyna Wojciechowska’s UNAWEZA Foundation is organizing a fundraiser for SEMA UKRAINE. You can support her.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
