Day 43. "Why did they punish me?"
Sensitive content ahead.
Hey everyone.
We were planning to publish an article about DAOs today but will have push it back. The content ahead is graphic and shocking so that’s the last warning for you. Horrifying events like this are happening, as you are reading this, in all russia-occupied territories of Ukraine. The only way to stop this from happening is to provide Ukraine with the weapons it’s asking for. Anyone who is against providing Ukraine with those weapons is essentially ok with stories like the one below.
What can you do? Pressure your local governments to provide Ukraine with the weapons it asks for. Act now.
Also - we are preparing info resources for rape victims and their psychologists. It can be any information how to cope with rape, ideally in Ukrainian but English would be helpful too. Please drop me a DM on Twitter if you have anything on that. Thank you.
“Guys, this is going to hurt. Maybe you shouldn't even read, I'm warning you! But I cannot not write.
At night I was on standby in the chat of emergency psychological help for those suffering from the war.
A woman's husband messages - she tried to take her life, speak to her.
Suicide is a very scary topic for me. Those who know me closely will understand why. But there's nothing that can be done - I go to work.
A young woman, talks limply, no interest, visibly on sedatives. In a quiet voice without any tones she says that the rushists raped her daughter, that she will never be able to look her in the eye, she is not a mother if she couldn't protect her.
I am trying to lead her away from the guilt into details, into rage, into any other emotion:
- Did the young lady suffer physically as well?
- Young lady?!- she yells all of a sudden - young lady?! She is six years old.
My stomach jumped and ended up in my pharynx. Betraying, cowardly thoughts started circling around my mind "What do I say?", "Why did I deserve this?", "Why did it have to be on my shift?"... Wow, stop! A shift. Where did I hear this, in a film - no one will die on my shift. Yes, I will not let her die on my shift.
In an hour I got a firm promise to live and to go to therapy. The girl was transferred to a local psychiatrist, they'll supervise. I got everyone I could on their feet and engaged them. But...
Two soldiers raped a child.
The mother tells that her daughter asked her twice: why did they punish me? I behaved well.
This is it. I'm sorry for not staying silent.”
Source: Ольга Ярделевская / Olga Yardelevsky
Translation - Yuriy, Ukraine DAO Contributor.
