Ukrainian women who left abroad after the outbreak of full-scale war face high levels of physical, sexual and psychological violence in European Union countries, according to a report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Deutsche Welle reported on the results of the study .
Following Russia's invasion, around 2.5 million women and girls have fled Ukraine and received temporary protection in EU countries. FRA Director Sirpa Rautiou stressed that member states must guarantee victims adequate protection, support and access to justice.
The report is based on a 2024 survey of over 1,200 Ukrainian women living in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland, as well as interviews with 30 women who have experienced violence.
According to the study, one in four Ukrainian women reported physical or sexual violence since the beginning of the war. Of these, 62% suffered in one of the EU countries, another 9% - while fleeing to the European Union. At the same time, 39% of respondents reported cases of violence in Ukraine, in some cases - by the Russian military.
In addition, 51% of respondents reported sexual harassment since the start of the war, and 23% reported online harassment. These figures are higher than the average for women in EU countries.
Also, about 54% of respondents faced negative reactions or attacks after communicating in Ukrainian in public, especially in the Czech Republic and Poland. Almost one in four women received offers of housing or work that could have signs of exploitation.
The FRA emphasizes the need to strengthen support programs, raise awareness about rights, and create safe mechanisms for reporting cases of violence.
