Refuge from Violence: How Women in Ukraine Find Help

In the middle of the night, Kateryna leaves her home—a small bag in her hand, her two-year-old son in her arms. She is six months pregnant, exhausted, and filled with fear. Her older children are studying in another city.

A friend had secretly given her the name of a women’s shelter in western Ukraine—a place where women who have experienced domestic violence can find protection. There, a new chapter begins for Kateryna.

Kateryna was married for 21 years. Ten of those years were peaceful; then came control, humiliation, and violence. With the birth of her youngest son, around the time the war began, the situation escalated. Her husband took her money, forbade her to eat, and deprived her of sleep. Eventually, she began to doubt her own sanity—which is precisely the goal of emotional manipulation.

After the death of her father, her last confidant, Kateryna found help. A friend put her in touch with 100% Life Rivne, a partner organization of humedica Ukraine. There, she received medical care, legal advice, and psychological support. Her son was accepted into kindergarten—a small island of normalcy. The location of her shelter remains a secret. The risk that her husband might find her is too great.

Through conversations with psychologists, Kateryna is coming to terms with what she has been through. Her sleep disturbances and panic attacks are becoming less frequent. Step by step, she is regaining her self-confidence. “I’ve learned to trust myself again,” she says quietly today, but with a smile. 

A legal expert is assisting her with the divorce and child support. Kateryna attends workshops on financial independence and resilience. She now helps out with day-to-day tasks at the shelter—the staff affectionately call her “our right-hand woman.”

The women’s shelter supports Kateryna until after the birth of her child. Afterward, social workers help her find housing, apply for jobs, and reintegrate into everyday life. The goal is for every woman not only to survive, but to be able to live a self-determined life again.

The war also makes it harder for the psychosocial teams. Destroyed roads make many facilities difficult to reach, and phone and internet connections are frequently disrupted. Some counseling centers are even coming under fire.

Nevertheless, the aid workers remain on the ground—because they know how urgently their support is needed.

In 2023, the number of reported cases of domestic violence in Ukraine rose by 51 percent. In the first few months of 2024 alone, over 30,000 cases were recorded.

In an environment where fear, trauma, and economic dependence shape the daily lives of many families, the work of humedica and its partners is vital for survival. Women like Kateryna receive:

• Safe shelter: a protected place where trust can grow (average stay of about 6–7 months)
• Psychological support: individual and group sessions with experienced professionals
• Social support: assistance with finding housing, dealing with government agencies, and re-entering the workforce
• Legal counseling: legal proceedings for divorce and child support
• Medical care: e.g., gynecological exams during pregnancy, as well as treatment for cancer and
  other illnesses
• Childcare: including at local facilities and referrals, e.g., to a speech therapist
• Training on general financial literacy and building emotional resilience (resilience)
• Essential supplies such as hygiene products for mother and child, baby food

With your support, you can give women like Kateryna protection, dignity, and hope—in a country that has been suffering the consequences of war for years.

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