“My name is Daniil <...>. I am 28 and from Donetsk. Before I was captured, I worked at a school, studied at an institute, and repaired computers at home. On August 19, 2020, armed men broke into my apartment, accused me of being a spy, put a bag over my head, and took me captive”.“For over three years, I was held in detention, where I endured beatings, electric shocks, and constant humiliation. Sexual violence and intimidation were part of daily life, and the fear extended to threats against my relatives”, Daniil recalls.“They made a lot of photos of me naked, all beaten, bruised, drenched in saliva and blood, and sent them to my friends.”Life in ‘Izoliatsiia’: hunger, fear, and abuse‘Izoliatsiia’ is a notorious prison in the co-called Donetsk People’s Republic, named after the former factory for insulating materials where it was located.  

During the interview, Daniil recalled those days as if transported back in time: “At Izoliatsiia prison, hunger, overcrowding, and fear were constant. Detainees were forced to endure extreme conditions, while intimidation and threats of sexual violence were routine.”“If they wanted to, they could easily target both your wife and children.”“Every day was defined by pain, deprivation, and constant surveillance. Even mundane acts, such as using the toilet, became tools of humiliation”, he said. Returning home, finding support“After my release, I returned to Ukraine by myself. There was no immediate assistance, and documentation and compensation were slow. Male survivors like me are often overlooked, though UN agencies and NGOs provided vital support.”“I can engage in social activism instead of just sitting in my flat, afraid to go out.”“Medical aid, housing, and rehabilitation programs allowed me to begin rebuilding my life.” Support from agencies like UNFPA, IOM, UN Women, and NGOs has been crucial in assisting, and continue to assist, CRSV survivors across the country.  Recognition, rehabilitation, and hopeDaniil decided to share his story to ensure recognition for survivors of CRSV (Conflict-Related Sexual Violence) and to advocate for comprehensive rehabilitation.“Keep people anonymous to prevent their experiences from going public.”“Captivity took ten percent of my life, but I hope for a future where survivors receive dignity, support, and guarantees of non-repetition”  Breaking Stigma and Supporting SurvivorsSurvivors of CRSV often struggle with shame, stigma, fear of retaliation, and difficulty accessing the support they need. These challenges can be shaped by their gender, with male survivors frequently facing additional stigma, fewer places to turn for help, and often a lack of services designed to meet their specific needs, especially in rural communities. Daniil stresses the importance of confidential support:“It is very hard for men to speak about what happened to them. Many do not tell even their families. Providing safe, professional support is essential for recovery.”Programs for survivors not only provide practical support but also help raise awareness about CRSV and reduce stigma. Drawing on his own experience, Daniil explains that “these programs allow survivors to regain their dignity and rebuild their lives without retraumatization.”  The UN in Ukraine stresses the importance of standing with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, by challenging stigmas, investing in confidential, survivor-centered services and reporting mechanisms, and raising awareness so communities are able to ensure safety, strengthen recovery, and uphold the rights of those affected.Together, we can promote compassion, dignity, and inclusion for all survivors  regardless of their gender, place in life, or otherwise, so that they are able to reclaim their lives.

Winter has always been difficult in Ukraine, but this year, it is one of the coldest in decades.   As temperatures drop, millions of people are facing daily life without drinking water, reliable electricity or heating, following repeated attacks on energy infrastructure that have disrupted power supplies across the country. For many households, keeping warm has become a daily challenge.Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s energy system has been under continuous attacks. Power plants, substations, and transmission lines have been damaged or destroyed, leading to widespread outages and rolling blackouts. While repairs continue, insecurity and access constraints mean that many communities, across the country, remain vulnerable to prolonged disruptions.With an estimated 10.8 million people in need, humanitarians aim to reach 4.1 million of the most vulnerable, prioritizing those experiencing the most severe conditions.  In response, United Nations agencies, working closely with the Government of Ukraine and humanitarian partners, are supporting communities to meet immediate needs while also laying the groundwork for greater resilience.  Beyond Darkness: The Human Impact When the energy infrastructure is under attack, the consequences are immediate; heating systems stop, water pumps fall silent, and communication becomes unreliable. For older people, peoplewith disabilities, and those living alone, extended outages can quickly turn dangerous. Healthcare facilities face even bigger risks. Since early 2022, the WHO has verified at least 2841 attacks on health care causing a number of facilities to close. Remaining ones depend on uninterrupted power to operate surgical equipment, preserve medicines, and provide emergency care. Schools, already disrupted by the war, struggle to keep classrooms functioning when heating and electricity cannot be guaranteed. The impact is not only physical. The uncertainty of never knowing when the next blackout will come or whether heating will last through the night, adds to the psychological strain carried by communities affected by years of  war. As Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, has warned, “Attacks on energy infrastructure risk leaving hospitals and homes without electricity and heating during these coldest months of the year.” He also highlighted the situation regarding basic needs, “Parents cannot prepare hot meals for their children, and many older people have been left isolated in cold homes yet again.”  Emergency Support When It Matters Most To address urgent needs, the United Nations, through its agencies, has mobilized emergency assistance to stabilize essential services. Generators, fuel, transformers, and spare parts have been delivered to hospitals, heating and water utilities, shelters, and collective sites, helping them continue operating during power outages. UNICEF is maintaining access to heating and safe drinking water, as both systems are often the first to shut down when electricity fails. By providing generators and backup equipment, the organization helps prevent shortages, reduce health risks, and enable the continuity of essential services in communities. In parallel, WHO and UNICEF have supported hospitals and primary healthcare centers with alternative power sources, ensuring continuity of care, particularly in areas close to the front line. Reflecting on the broader impact of these attacks, Matthias Schmale emphasized that “this systematic cycle of attacks on energy infrastructure violates international humanitarian law and must stop.”  Keeping Homes WarmAs winter sets in, heating becomes one of the most urgent priorities. UNHCR and partners have distributed winter insultation kits, heaters, and cash support to help families buy firewood or other winter necessities and cover heating costs. In addition, winter repairs and insulation work is carried out on private homes as well as in collective centers, hosting the most vulnerable internally displaced people. For displaced people or war-affected families living in war-damaged housing, this support can be decisive.The IOM has worked at the community level, helping rehabilitate heating systems in collective centers and providing energy‑efficient equipment. These interventions not only address immediate needs but also help reduce energy consumption over time.Across the country, the “Invincibility points,” heated public spaces equipped with electricity, water, and internet have become critical during extended outages. UN agencies have supported those spaces with equipment and supplies so they can serve as safe havens when homes lose power.Matthias Schmale has stressed that “the whole neighborhoods of the cities end up without heating, power or water supply after each attack for many hours, days or even months. We are particularly worried about vulnerable people – children, the elderly and people with disabilities.”    Building Resilience While emergency aid remains vital, the United Nations is also supporting longer-term energy resilience in Ukraine. UNDP leads efforts on decentralized, rapidly deployable systems—like distributed generators, modular heating, renewable energy, and battery storage—to reduce reliance on vulnerable, centralized infrastructure.UNOPS strengthened Ukraine’s energy resilience by delivering over $45 million in heating equipment to Kharkiv, including modular boiler houses to reduce reliance on centralized systems. In Mykolaiv, 10 emergency repair vehicles were provided to local heating companies - two were recently deployed to Kyiv after major attacks. UNOPS also supplied 100 generators to the State Emergency Service, some of which powered homes in Kyiv during January outages.In partnership with local authorities, UNDP is installing solar panels and batteries for critical facilities such as hospitals, schools, and water systems, alongside energy-efficiency measures like improved insulation and upgraded heating.  At the same time, UNIDO is helping Ukraine’s industrial sector improve energy efficiency, implement international management standards, and access financing, protecting production, jobs, and energy security amid ongoing disruptions. UNICEF is helping schools improve their heating and energy resilience through grants that enable them to repair and upgrade their systems. 
These initiatives help communities endure the current crisis while building a more sustainable, resilient recovery.  Coordination at the CoreThe scale of the energy crisis requires close coordination. Across Ukraine, UN agencies work together to align humanitarian and early recovery efforts, ensuring support reaches those most in need.  Coordination with national and local authorities is equally important. Ukrainian energy workers continue repairing damaged infrastructure under extremely challenging conditions. UN support complements these efforts by addressing urgent pressing needs while strengthening local capacity.Matthias Schmale has warned that ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure, combined with freezing winter temperatures, could create “a nightmare scenario” for civilians. He added that if the destruction continues, “our biggest nightmare is thousands of people stuck in high-rise buildings without electricity, heating or water.” Looking Ahead: Energy, Dignity, and RecoveryThe energy crisis in Ukraine is a reminder that the impact of war extends far beyond visible destruction. It reaches homes, hospitals, and schools, shaping daily life in ways that are often unseen. Yet, amid these challenges, communities continue to endure.By combining emergency support with longer‑term initiatives, UN agencies are helping Ukrainians cope with immediate hardship while preserving dignity and safety.  As Matthias Schmale has emphasized, “access to energy is about far more than light and heat, it is about dignity, stability, and the ability to live with a sense of normalcy, even in the midst of war.”As Ukraine faces an uncertain winter and ongoing challenges, sustained global support and investment in resilient energy solutions remain essential, not only to power homes and hospitals, but to support recovery and hope for the future.  

On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are sharing the stories of Ukrainian women who are revolutionizing their fields with their dedication, innovations and zero tolerance for gender inequality and stereotypes.  Women take a wheel in the male-dominated industry   Vira, who spent years of her life working as the village head, is now navigating male-dominated industry of logistics and freight transportation. Truck driving in Ukraine has traditionally been a male-dominated profession. But labor shortages and growing demand for equal access to jobs are opening the door to new opportunities."After driving a car, a truck seemed like a challenge, but thanks to a good driving school and instructors, the training went quite smoothly," she recalls. Breaking stereotypes, Vira underwent training to obtain a Category CE license and later joined a She Drives project that supports women who have decided to pursue a career in freight transport, to make her dream come true and obtain Code 95, which opened access to international transportation. "What inspires me is the road, the wheel, and the sense of responsibility. When you deliver the cargo on time, and the vehicle is in good condition, it gives a feeling of satisfaction," she adds. A journey into robotics and creativity to support women in STEM What began as a playful experiment with 3D printing during the pandemic evolved into a company with a clear vision: to merge creativity and engineering in ways that resonate with people. “That experiment became ‘KULYA’ - and people’s reactions showed it was something bigger,” explains Olha, Ukrainian innovator, CEO and co-founder of UkraineRobotics. “When we filed our first patent and strangers started asking on social media, ‘Can I order one too?’, I realized it was no longer a hobby. It was the beginning of a company and a vision to create an ecosystem where robotics and imagination meet.” Olha speaks candidly about her path into technology. She says she struggled with self-doubt and never saw women in leadership roles in her field growing up, which made it harder to see herself as a CEO. Her message for young women and girls is simple: choose what you love, start exploring and do not listen to anyone. She believes that bringing more women into science and engineering isn’t just about fairness, it’s crucial for fostering innovation and helping Ukraine’s future development and reconstruction.  Clearing lands for safety of communities Driven by the call to help people, Karyna worked as a firefighter before joining a team of humanitarian deminers within the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Dnipro region.  “Every day brings something new. I am constantly learning, getting new information, and gaining experience. In this job, it couldn't be any other way –  every trip, every task brings new knowledge,” she explains.  Karyna describes her daily work as both demanding and meaningful. Her team works across agricultural, forested, and residential areas affected by the war, making them safe again so people can live, work, and children can play without fear. Though sometimes confronted with the stereotype that demining isn’t “women’s work,” she says respect and collaboration in her unit have always enabled her to focus on what is important.  “What inspires us most is when, after our work in the communities, people can live peacefully, children can play, and living conditions become safe again. That is what gives us the strength to do our work,” she says.Karyna encourages women and girls to explore this field if they feel drawn to it and not to be limited by traditional expectations about gender roles.New technologies to open the doors for women in farming industry   The Ukrainian pig industry is confronting labour shortages and operational challenges amid the ongoing war, with many farms struggling to fill key technical and managerial roles. Oksana Yurchenko, the President of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, is sure that the future of the industry is with women at leadership positions. “Involving women in Ukraine’s pig industry is a matter of inclusivity, resilience and innovation. Women bring valuable skills and perspectives that can strengthen farms and the sector as a whole,” she explains.  Eco-Pork, a Japanese company, is working with Ukrainian partners to bring new digital tools to pig farming. These tools make the work easier to learn and help more women enter skilled jobs, while also improving farm efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The initiative is part of UNIDO’s Green Industrial Recovery project and includes training for women, supporting a more modern, sustainable, and inclusive pig farming sector.The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed every year on 11 February, was established by the United Nations to promote full and equal access for women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and to highlight the vital role they play in driving innovation and sustainable development worldwide. In 2026 the theme is “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls,” highlighting the need to combine these areas to close the gender gap and create a more inclusive future. 

TRACES, a documentary film by Ukrainian director Alisa Kovalenko, co-directed by Marysia Nikitiuk, has been selected for Panorama Dokumente at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), which will take place from 12 to 22 February 2026. The world premiere on such a prominent international platform aims to draw global attention to the issue of conflict-related sexual violence during Russia’s war against Ukraine.The film is created and directed by Alisa Kovalenko (We Will Not Fade Away, Home Games, My Dear Théo) and co-directed by Marysia Nikitiuk (When the Trees Fall, I Am Nina), who noted that their collaboration became an expression of genuine sisterhood and mutual creative support.Alisa Kovalenko also serves as the film’s director, screenwriter, director of photography, and one of the editors. The film was edited by Nikon Romanchenko, an award-winning Ukrainian director and film editor (Timestamp, Stop-Zemlia), and Milenia Fiedler, a renowned Polish editor and Rector of the Łódź Film School. The editing process was further advised by leading European editors Niels Pagh Andersen, Audrey Maurion, and Kasia Boniecka, as well as by American documentary filmmaker and editor Kirsten Johnson.The film’s score was composed by acclaimed Polish composer Wojciech Frycz, who has previously collaborated with Alisa Kovalenko on her earlier films. Sound design was created by a Ukrainian–Polish team of professionals, Mariia Nesterenko and Maciej Amilkiewicz.TRACES is produced by award-winning Ukrainian producers Olha Bregman and Natalia Libet, founders of the independent production company 2BRAVE PRODUCTIONS. In 2025, they also premiered Timestamp, a documentary directed by Kateryna Gornostai, at Berlinale — the first feature by a Ukrainian director to be selected for the festival’s main competition in over 30 years.FILM AND PROTAGONISTSThe documentary film TRACES tells the stories of Ukrainian women — from Donbas to the Kherson region and the Kyiv area — who survived conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and torture during Russia’s aggression and refuse to remain silent. Through the story of Iryna Dovhan — a former captive, head of SEMA Ukraine, and activist who documents testimonies of survivors in de-occupied territories of Ukraine — the film creates a collective portrait of trauma while simultaneously opening a space for hope.Iryna’s personal experience made her one of the key figures in Ukraine’s fight against crimes of conflict-related sexual violence. After surviving captivity in eastern Ukraine in 2014, she initiated the first gathering of women survivors in Kyiv and soon thereafter founded Ukraine’s first survivor-led organization. Today, she advocates for both women and men affected by CRSV during Russia’s war against Ukraine.The protagonists of the film come from diverse personal and professional backgrounds. Iryna Dovhan is a former economist and beauty salon owner; Olha Cherniak is a civil servant at a district administration; Tetiana Vasylenko and Galyna Tyshchenko are entrepreneurs; Nina is a farmer; and Liudmyla Mefodivna Mymrykova is a former Ukrainian language and literature teacher whose school was bombed.“For me, this film is more than just a film. It is a continuation of my purpose — to ensure that the perpetrators will ultimately be held accountable. It does not simply break the global “silence”; it breaks it so loudly that I hope it will leave a clear and lasting echo around the world. After everything I went through, the most painful realization for me was understanding that Russia will never extradite the criminals, that they will never be punished. Over time, even those closest to me began to forget my traumatic experience. Only this film gave me hope that memory will not disappear, that our testimonies are now permanently recorded”, comments the CRSV-survivor Iryna Dovhan.“Filming this documentary was extremely difficult, because each time you immerse yourself again in that horror. But together with the women of SEMA Ukraine, we were able to overcome our pain — for the sake of truth, and out of solidarity with those Ukrainian women who were brutally tortured and who will never be able to share their stories. For me, Traces is a document of Russian crimes against the Ukrainian people — against our existence, against our identity — and we must resist them. This film is our act of resistance”, says another protagonist of the film Galyna Tyshchenko.Bringing women together in a circle of courage and mutual care, TRACES shows how personal pain can be transformed into the power of truth, justice, and solidarity. The film is both a document of war crimes and of the systematic use of sexual violence by Russia as a weapon of war in Ukraine, as well as a testament to the resistance and resilience of women who stand shoulder to shoulder.Director Alisa Kovalenko is familiar with this difficult subject, as she herself is a survivor of conflict-related sexual violence experienced during her captivity in Donbas at the very beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war. She became one of the first women in Ukraine to speak publicly about this experience and later joined the survivor community of SEMA Ukraine.“After what I went through in 2014, I remained silent for more than a year and could not share my experience with anyone close to me — my friends or my family. In 2019, Iryna Dovhan invited me to the first meeting of women who had survived sexual violence and torture in captivity, and soon we became the first civil society organization in Ukraine to unite survivors of conflict-related sexual violence — SEMA Ukraine.We spoke a lot about different forms of advocacy, and the idea of making a documentary film was constantly present in our discussions. Despite my understanding of how important this film was, it was not easy for me to take that step. After the full-scale invasion began, the de-occupation of our territories, and the countless horrific stories of violence we heard, the awareness of how necessary this film was ultimately outweighed my inner fears,” says Alisa Kovalenko.FILM SUPPORT IN UKRAINE AND ABROADThe producers established strong cooperation with partners in Ukraine and abroad, engaging not only financial support but also advocacy efforts and social solidarity around the film.TRACES is a Ukrainian–Polish co-production. The Polish producers Violetta Kamińska, Izabela Wójcik, and Dariusz Jabłoński of the production company Message Film secured funding for the film from the Polish Film Institute.During production, the documentary TRACES was acquired by ARTE France. The film will later be broadcast on ARTE’s platforms under the title SURVIVANTES DE L’INVASION.“This is not only support for a Ukrainian team working under the conditions of war, but also an opportunity to be heard far beyond Ukraine and to address a wide European audience with a story that demands attention, empathy, and justice. For us, this collaboration means more than funding or distribution. It is a sign that the world is ready to listen, and that Ukrainian women are not left alone with their experiences. Their stories are becoming part of a shared European memory.ARTE France has been our long-standing partner, supporting our most challenging and responsible initiatives over many years. At the same time, the film’s international premiere in the Panorama section at Berlinale feels like a great “home” for our film! We are deeply grateful to our international partners and to the festival for this trust and support,” note producers Olha Bregman and Natalia Libet.In Ukraine, TRACES received several industry awards while still in production at the Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in June 2025. Among them were an award from Kino42 cinema for a test screening of the film, an award for the directors from Suspilne Broadcasting of Ukraine, and an editing consultancy award from Rough Cut Service.The production of the film was supported by SEMA Ukraine together with the Dr Denis Mukwege Foundation, the Polish producers Violetta Kamińska, Izabela Wójcik, and Dariusz Jabłoński of Message Film, as well as the Polish Film Institute, International Media Support, HIAS, and the Ukrainian Film Academy in cooperation with the NETFLIX FUND for CREATIVE EQUITY. Additional promotional support was provided by the Ukrainian Institute in cooperation with EURIMAGES.“TRACES powerfully embodies the principle of ‘nothing about us without us.’ This is a rare and deeply survivor-led film — created with and from within the survivor community. The film shows the profound consequences of conflict-related sexual violence on survivors’ lives, while also revealing their resilience and the strength they draw from supporting one another. The Mukwege Foundation is proud to support Traces and the women of SEMA Ukraine, and to stand with them as they transform pain into solidarity. Together, we will continue to work to change how the world responds to conflict-related sexual violence”, says Apolline Pierson, Dr Denis Mukwege Foundation.In Ukraine, the film’s impact partners are UN Women Ukraine and the Masha Foundation, who have joined in supporting the film and its social mission to address conflict-related sexual violence and to amplify the voices of survivors.