Psychologist Tetiana of Vinnytsia Treats Female Soldiers Who Experienced Sexual Abuse and Torture

Tetiana M. & Lena D. 

Tetiana of the Vinnytsia Oblast Clinic says that a separate category of patients she treats are female soldiers. She told us the story of Hanna, a pseudonym, who is a female solider who received the mandated debriefing treatment after being in Russian captivity. Hanna had to have multiple gynecological operations due to the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of the Russians. Hanna nonetheless went back to the front to fight.  Hanna then realized mentally she could no longer do so, so she came to the Vinnytisa for treatment. She had problems sleeping.

Another patient who Psychologist Tetiana M. remembers clearly was an active female soldier who experienced Russian captivity for a period of 10 grueling months. As you read her story we will call her Olesia, a Ukrainian name that means Defender of Mankind. Her real name is being omitted to protect patient privacy.

Olesia is a young woman under 30 years old. She was sexually abused and tortured. The result of such terrible violence left the woman sterilized, unable to have children. She returned to the Ukrainian army and came to the Vinnytsia Oblast Clinic to receive treatment. It was difficult for her to have treatment at this clinic because many things at the Vinnytisa hospital reminded her of the Russian prison she was in, such as the staff locking doors in the psychiatry department. There were too many men around for her comfort. Going to the city to visit changed her environment and helped her feel better.

She was captured and spent time in Russia. Her boyfriend, who was also a Ukrainian soldier, also experienced Russian captivity. Olesia was freed first and came to Vinnytsia for treatment. Later her boyfriend came to a different hospital to receive treatment.

Her boyfriend would call to her. They planned to marry and had became engaged for a long time.  But Olesia didn’t know how to tell him she could not have children. Tetiana talked to her a lot about this. Olesia thought if she said she couldn’t have children her fiancée would not want to marry her. Olesia finally informed her fiancée that she could not have children. He still wanted to get married. He proposed to adopt children, but he also had to go through the rehabilitation process. He told Olesia, “While you are in treatment, please go shopping for a wedding dress.” Tetiana tried hard not to cry during the 6 sessions she had with Olesia. Olesia reported to Tetiana that she was now happy and full of hope as she would seek to find a wedding dress.

Olesia was not ready to go back to traumatic memories so Tetiana could not use the prolonged exposure technique that she learned in our training with this patient. Olesia was crying all the time. Tetiana tried to have Olesia focus on this day now, the present period. Olesia had compounded trauma regarding the fact her mother had passed away after Olesia decided to go to fight again on the frontlines. Her mother had been the closest relative for her. She could not manage her grief and go through the emotions. In the process of their treatment, she started speaking about her grief over the loss of her mother. She had a guilty feeling because her mother had cancer for a long time. For 2-3 clinical therapy sessions Tetiana focused with Olesia on her grief and guilt emotions.

Tetiana spoke a lot with Olesia about how she spent time in Vinnytsia. Olesia’s rehabilitation was focused on the reality which is the environment surrounding her. Olesia’s therapy was good in that Tetiana was a woman that the patient felt safe seeing. As Tetiana understands Olesia’s current situation, Olesia and her fiancee as a couple are not demobilized and are still fighting but not on the frontlines. Olesia was very sure about her decision in general to fight in the military. She was sure her fiancé would continue to be active as a soldier in the military also.

Sometimes civilians who faced Russian captivity in occupied territories. At times these patients come to Tetiana’s hospital. She reported that she has other patients who have experienced Russian captivity as well.