TRACES

TRACES is a documentary that follows the stories of six 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 journey of Iryna Dovgan, a former captive turned activist, the film documents survivor testimonies gathered in the formerly occupied territories of Ukraine. As Iryna brings women together to speak, listen, and support one another, TRACES weaves a collective portrait of trauma, while creating space for resistance, solidarity and hope

After surviving captivity in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Iryna initiated the first gathering of women survivors and soon went on to found Ukraine's first survivor-led organisationSEMA UkraineDr. Denis Mukwege Foundation.

The women featured in the film come from diverse personal and professional backgrounds. lryna Dovgan 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 Mlymrykova is a former Ukrainian language and literature teacher whose school was bombed.

More than a record of war crimes, TRACES is a testament to resilience and the solidarity of women standing side by side.

“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 realisation 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”- Iryna Dovgan.

Director Alisa Kovalenko is herself a survivor of conflict-related sexual violence experienced during captivity in Donbas at the very beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war. She was one of the first women in Ukraine to speak publicly about this experience and is a member of SEMA Ukraine. Her personal experience and human rights activism led her to work on the documentary film Traces.

“There is still stigma, shame and fear surrounding this topic in society, and this is the wall we want to break down. And my personal story is also indicative of how difficult it was to speak, to comprehend, and how I found such important support among the same women, how I found a way out for myself." - Alisa Kovalenko

In February 2026, TRACES was selected for its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) and is nominated for the Berlinale Documentary Award, marking a major international milestone for the film.

With your support, SEMA Ukraine will:

• Screen in Ukraine and internationally, sparking dialogues with survivors, policymakers, human rights actors, and civil society to drive accountability, including efforts to hold Russia responsible for conflict-related sexual violence.
• Host community screenings and discussions to challenge isolation and stigma, helping survivors access the care, protection, and justice they deserve.

TRACES is a documentary directed by award-winning filmmaker Alisa Kovalenko, co-directed by Marysia Nikitiuk, produced by 2BraveProductions and Message Film in association with Arte France, and in association with SEMA Ukraine and the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation