War ‘hits’ women and men offering sex on Ukraine’s streets – ‘Soldiers ask for discounts’

THE Ukraine before the warFebruary 24, 2022 is a developing country in Eastern Europe and one of the most popular destinations for sex tourism. Based on the country’s Public Health Center, by that time 53,000 people they are working officially at his place sexwhile unofficially the numbers are much higher.

But from the day the Russian invasion breaks out, the life of the sex workers takes a drastic turn for the worse, with clients plummeting. Also, sex workers who are addicted to drugs or suffering from HIV are left without treatment and support.

This problem may seem insignificant to some people, but thanks to the oldest profession in the world thousands of people survive in Ukraine. At the same time, the possibility spreading diseases or lack of sexual intercourse among soldiers can lead to unintended consequences.

The journalist of New York Times, Maria Varenikovaspoke to sex workers in Ukraine and documented – under pseudonyms for security reasons – the new life they are experiencing since Russia invaded its neighboring country.

However, they are forced to work, since they need money to live and this is the work they know or can do. “On the first day of the war, I didn’t go out,” she says Olena who lives near Kamianske in central Ukraine and notes: “But on the second day I did.” In addition, the Denys who also works in the sex industry and lives in Kyiv, says that the fact that prostitution continues in such unfavorable conditions means that “our city is alive and we are still alive”.

Drugs and HIV

Sex workers in Ukraine face not only economic insecurity and fear of soldiers, but also addictions and illnesses. The Ukrainian Public Health Center says the war has changed the state’s priorities and disrupted supply chains. Thus, the social workers cannot care for drug-addicted sex workers or to they distribute clean needles and free condoms.

At the same time, spread of HIVboth in Local communityas well as in soldiers, is one of the biggest concerns. For example, the half of the centers that cared for people with HIV have been closed because of the warso antiretroviral drug treatments, which help reduce transmission, are not carried out.

So the situation is bad for people who work in the sex industry in Ukraine, but some people from social services continue to work and offer help where they can.

THE Tetyanaa social services worker, has been helping sex workers in the Kamianske district for more than 15 years and emphasizes that “we try hard to teach them to protect themselves. I know these people as if they were my children… I will stay here to protect».