KYIV, Ukraine – Olena*, 45, said she had forgotten that life could be different after being trapped for years within a cycle of violence with her abusive husband. He systematically severed Olena’s ties with the outside world, leaving her in complete isolation.
“Sometimes I even started doubting my own sanity,” Olena said. “You begin to think, ‘Maybe there really is something wrong with me.’”
Olena’s story is a harrowing example of a broader crisis. Across Ukraine, the risk of gender-based violence is increasing. In 2026, an estimated 2.9 million people, primarily women and girls, need gender-based violence prevention and response services.
Economic strain and displacement from recent years have created a fertile ground for domestic tension, with repeated power outages and harsh weather conditions during the winter leaving vulnerable people even more isolated and compounding their risk for abuse.
From “concern” to control
Olena met her husband during a vulnerable period while raising her daughter alone. Initially, he was attentive, winning her over with his care for her child. But that care soon mutated into strict control. Under the guise of “concern,” he convinced her to leave her job and cut ties with her friends.
Even when financial necessity forced her back to work, the control followed. He timed her commutes to the minute and monitored her every interaction. What was presented to the public as a "protective" relationship was, behind closed doors, a prison of psychological and physical abuse.
The turning point came when the violence shifted toward her child. “I saw how it affected my daughter’s mental health. When he began pushing me in front of my child, I realized I had to stop it,” Olena recalled.
In a time of crisis
In Ukraine today, the demand for support is overwhelming. So far in 2026, 23 UNFPA mobile psychosocial support teams funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) have reached over 2,000 people. Survivors of domestic violence accounted for 92 per cent of these cases.
During a severe episode of physical and sexual violence, Olena’s daughter called the police – and this time, she did not look back.
But leaving is only the first step. Surviving the aftermath requires consistent and systematic assistance. Specialists from a UNFPA-supported mobile psychosocial support team became Olena’s lifeline. They helped her and her children settle into a shelter, restored lost documents, and provided the psychological aid needed to stabilize her emotional state.
“This time, there were people by my side who did not let me break down,” said Olena. “Without the mobile team, I probably would not have found the courage.”
Reach and reliability
The mobile teams focus on direct outreach, engaging with people in open, judgment-free conversations to help them recognize the signs of abuse and understand how to find help. This support is hands-on and practical: from developing immediate safety plans to providing transportation for those in remote villages who need to reach a safe space but have no means of their own.
Today, Olena lives with her children and is rebuilding her life. The mobile team remains in close contact, providing the ongoing psychological consultations she needs to heal.
“These relationships break you down; they literally poison you,” Olena warned. “You have to find a way out of the cycle, because it pulls you in so deeply that you stop noticing anything else. Support is essential.”
The consistency of these services is vital for long-term recovery. KSrelief’s support for mobile teams in Ukraine ensures that even in the most difficult situations, survivors like Olena are never forced to face their journey alone.
“You lose yourself in violence,” Olena said, now looking toward a future she once thought impossible. “But with the right people beside you, you can find your way back.”
*Name changed for confidentiality and protection.
