Traces

Six Ukrainian women share stories of the traumatic experience of sexual violence and torture they went through at the hands of Russian soldiers during the Russian aggression war in Ukraine from 2014 to 2023, for the sake of preserving memory and truth.   “Traces” weaves together the elements of their stories and life trajectories into a complex psychological multi-portrait, creating a picture of a collective trauma and a unique document of the crimes committed by the occupiers who came to Ukraine.  It’s a journey through the underworld of dark memories, with all its possible hidden traces to find a way out. Iryna, Liudmyla, Halyna, Tetiana, Olha, and Mefodiivna go through the difficult path on their way to recovery and unite to support each other.  Together, these women  also begin to work for a common goal: to break down stigma and silence and to search for justice. They are all members of SEMA UKRAINE, a community of Ukrainian women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).