Since Russia’s aggression against Ukraine began in 2014, sexual violence and torture have left wounds that are often hidden from public view. TRACES brings forward the stories of six Ukrainian women who survived these crimes and are determined not to let silence define their lives.
At the heart of the documentary is Iryna Dovhan, a former captive who became a human rights activist. Travelling through regions scarred by occupation, she listens to other survivors, helps document their testimonies and brings women together through SEMA Ukraine, a community built on solidarity and mutual support. Their experiences are different, but their search for recognition and justice connects them.
Directed by Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikitiuk, TRACES looks beyond the violence itself to the lives and relationships of the women who endured it. The film bears witness to crimes committed during Russia’s war while asking what it takes to speak out, support one another and reclaim a voice. It is a documentary about lasting trauma, but also about collective courage and the refusal to be reduced to what has happened.