War doesn’t just destroy buildings—it shatters lives. But apparently, global leaders believe some lives are more expendable than others. The US decision to halt funding for the UNFPA will impact 640,000 Ukrainian women and girls. They will lose access to psychosocial support. They will also lose access to gender-based violence services and safe spaces. Because nothing says ‘global leadership’ like cutting off aid to those who need it most.
A young mother steps off a train in Dnipro, carrying a small bag and five children. She’s not just fleeing Russian attacks—she’s escaping a violent partner who beat her so severely she miscarried. She needs urgent medical care, legal help, and a safe place for her children. The situation in Ukraine is dire for her.
Tetiana, a psychologist with a UNFPA mobile team, meets her at the station, arranging medical escorts and legal aid. But soon, Tetiana may not be there. The support system keeping survivors afloat is vanishing, and so is hope in Ukraine.
THE OTHER WAR: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, reports of domestic and sexual violence have tripled. An estimated 2.4 million Ukrainians—mostly women and girls—urgently need gender-based violence services. But with funding slashed, these services are crumbling in Ukraine.
“Even after finding physical safety, many struggle with panic attacks, nightmares, and depression,” says Tetiana. Nearly two-thirds of Ukrainian households report extreme stress. Job losses, financial hardship, and war trauma fuel a crisis that won’t simply fade away. Without help, trauma passes through generations, leaving a lasting scar.
SURVIVING ISN’T THRIVING
Roman, a social worker in Dnipro, describes his team as the emergency responders of gender-based violence. “We’re the ambulance before the ambulance,” he says. But ambulances without funding don’t go far in Ukraine.
Many women lack income or housing, making them easy targets for further violence. “People think surviving the initial attack is the end,” Tetiana adds. “But real healing starts with support. Without it, the cycle of harm continues, especially in Ukraine.”
FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE CROSSFIRE
Aid workers aren’t just battling bureaucracy—they’re risking their lives in Ukraine. Roman describes rushing into war zones to provide help, suppressing his own fear.
Since 2022, over 2,200 attacks on healthcare services in Ukraine have been recorded. In 2024 alone, more than 300 medical facilities were targeted. But apparently, hospitals are now optional in Ukraine.
A Convenient Cut to Humanity
Since 2022, US funding has sustained more than 50 of UNFPA’s mobile teams. These teams have been lifelines, especially in Ukraine’s war zones where official services fall short. Now, with funding pulled, that lifeline is severed.
Women are the backbone of Ukraine’s resilience. They work, raise families, and rebuild communities amid destruction. Yet, when it comes to funding decisions, their safety is negotiable.
By cutting aid for psychosocial support, safe spaces, and economic programs, the world is telling these women they don’t matter in Ukraine.
While politicians debate over budget spreadsheets, a woman in Ukraine sits in the dark, wondering where to turn next. But she’s just another statistic, right?
