Ukrainians Struggle to Manage Stress
During the New Year holidays, an increase in domestic violence cases is anticipated in Ukraine.
Human rights activists warn about this, as reported by opendatabot.
“The winter holiday period sees a peak in reports of domestic violence, with alcohol being the most common triggering factor. Typically, such escalations occur in families where violence is a regular practice,” the statement reads.
According to human rights defenders, there is an issue with Ukrainians not knowing how to relieve stress in a safe manner, and many resort to various substances for this purpose.
Experts note that human aggression, even without altered states of consciousness, reaches serious levels amid the ongoing war, and under the influence of alcohol and drugs, the level of aggression becomes even more alarming.
“Therefore, there is a very high likelihood that on the night of December 31 to January 1, at one o'clock or at half-past one, we will already receive reports of domestic violence incidents,” human rights defenders warned.
At the same time, law enforcement data indicates that during the first 11 months of 2024, 2,777 criminal cases regarding domestic violence have been opened in Ukraine.
According to law enforcement agencies, in 76 percent of cases, women seek help. However, there has been a recent increase in reports of domestic violence against elderly individuals; currently, this constitutes one in three reports. This demographic often faces violence from their adult children and grandchildren, primarily due to financial motives.
It is worth noting that at the beginning of the year, a sharp increase in domestic violence against young women was recorded in Kyiv.