Ukraine’s war reveals hidden rise in domestic violence.
Ukraine's war reveals hidden rise in domestic violence.
Rising Cases of Domestic Violence in Ukraine: A Consequence of War and Trauma
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DNIPRO, Ukraine – In January, the body of 34-year-old Liubov Borniakova was found in her home in Dnipro, central Ukraine. The coroner’s report revealed that she had suffered 75 bruises. Her husband, Yakov Borniakov, had been deserting from the army and had allegedly beaten her repeatedly during the preceding weeks. Borniakova’s aunt and a neighbor described the horrific scene, stating, “There was simply no place on her that was left alive. Her arms were beaten, her head, her legs, everything.”
This tragic incident sheds light on a disturbing trend in Ukraine. As millions of people fled the fighting following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, registered cases of domestic violence initially decreased. However, as families have returned to their homes or resettled elsewhere, cases of domestic violence have soared this year, according to previously unreported national police data reviewed by ANBLE.
The data revealed that in the first five months of 2023, registered cases of domestic violence jumped 51% compared to the same period in 2022. Furthermore, this number was over a third higher than the previous record in 2020, which experts had attributed to pandemic lockdowns. The increase in cases is largely attributed to rising stress, economic hardship, unemployment, and trauma related to the ongoing conflict. Sadly, the majority of victims are women.
Ukraine’s commissioner for gender policy, Kateryna Levchenko, highlighted the factors contributing to the rise in domestic violence. She stated, “(The rise) is because of psychological tension and because of a lot of difficulties. People lost everything.” The data supports Levchenko’s observations, with police registering 349,355 cases of domestic violence from January to May 2023—compared to 231,244 during the same period in 2022 and 190,277 in the first five months of 2021.
Worryingly, many experts and professionals in the field fear that the problem will worsen as the war persists and extend long after the conflict ends due to the traumatised troops returning from the front. The situation is particularly dire in Dnipro, a central hub for people fleeing occupied areas and fighting in the east and south.
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To address the growing crisis, a relief center was opened in Dnipro in September, operated by the government and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), catering to survivors of domestic violence. As of mid-May, the center had provided support to 800 people, with women comprising the majority. However, it is worth noting that only around 35% of these survivors filed complaints with the police, indicating that the prevalence of domestic violence may be even higher than official data suggests.
Psychologist Tetyana Pogorila, who works at the center, explains that for those displaced by the war and now residing in Dnipro, being in an unfamiliar place makes some victims of domestic violence more dependent on their abusers. The combination of limited living space, financial instability, and overall anxiety exacerbates stress and conflict within households.
Notably, the resources available to combat domestic violence have been stretched thin by the war. Some women’s shelters have been repurposed to house people displaced by the fighting, and funds allocated for gender-based violence have been redirected to defense spending. Yulia Usenko, head of the Department for the Protection of Children’s Interests and Combating Violence at Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office, acknowledges the potential issues arising from traumatized troops returning from the front and states that protective measures have been implemented. Nevertheless, the lack of funds remains a concern for social service workers who anticipate a surge in violence.
While efforts have been made to address the issue, there are still significant challenges to overcome. The cultural perception that domestic violence is a private matter to be resolved between spouses persists among some judges and police officers. Convictions for domestic violence under Ukrainian law carry a maximum prison sentence of just two years. Offenders often receive fines of $5-10 or community service sentences.
Despite these obstacles, there have been positive developments in recent years. The police and judicial system in Ukraine have undergone reforms since 2015, treating domestic violence as a crime and establishing dedicated law enforcement services. Levchenko asserts that the increase in registered cases of domestic violence is partly due to greater attention being paid to the issue by the police.
In the case of Liubov Borniakova, her death was initially attributed to heart failure by the police after medical experts concluded their investigation. However, her family’s lawyer successfully appealed this decision, arguing that the heart attack was induced by intense beatings. The criminal investigation into her death was reopened, offering hope for justice. The family now strives to remove her husband’s name from her gravestone and replace it with her maiden name.
As Ukraine continues its struggle with the ongoing conflict and its aftermath, addressing the issue of domestic violence remains a vital task. Efforts to provide support, raise awareness, and enact stricter penalties for offenders are crucial to safeguarding the well-being of vulnerable individuals and communities.
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