Legalife-Ukraine hotline 2026: SIMPLE AND COMPLEX STORIES IN TIMES OF WAR

Sex work in Ukraine has always been associated with risks, and following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, these have been compounded by general security challenges, economic hardship and the need to adapt quickly to new circumstances. Finding clients has become more difficult, stability has diminished, and for many women, their earnings are now insufficient to cover even basic necessities.

The data from our surveys clearly reflect these realities:

• For 72% of community members in Ukraine, working conditions have deteriorated significantly, and risks to life and health have increased.
• A further 42% have been forced to change their usual places of work or switch entirely to online or webcam work.
• The financial situation has worsened for 85% of the women, and for 41% of those surveyed, monthly income does not exceed 7,500 UAH, which is below the minimum wage in Ukraine.

All this is compounded by long-standing problems — stigma and discrimination — which often leave young women to cope with their troubles alone, without support from society or state institutions.

That is precisely why our Helpline takes calls every day, becoming a familiar source of support for many. It is a space free from judgement, where people can receive practical help and advice during difficult times.

What do our statistics tell us?

Over the last 8 months, we have recorded hundreds of calls:

• Our operators have handled over 900 calls, and almost half of these were for psychological support.
• 478 people received individual support. Among them were 178 young women aged 18–29, 296 women over 30, and 4 people from the LGBTQ+ community.
• In total, we provided 924 consultations. Of these, 446 were sessions with a psychologist, 335 were referrals to relevant specialists (lawyers, medical professionals, social services) and 143 were peer-to-peer consultations.

CONVERSATIONS WITHOUT BARRIERS

When sex workers call us, it is important for them to speak to someone who will not treat them condescendingly. Counselling from those who know this job from the inside works best.

Olena (Олена), a counsellor at the CO ‘Legalife-Ukraine’ Hotline, explains:

“Sometimes, girls call us in complete despair or angry at the whole world and are sure that no one will understand them. I’ve been through this myself, so I understand how they feel. I’m not here to lecture them or tell them what to do. We simply talk as equals; the girls get things off their chests, the wall of mistrust disappears, and together we figure out what to do next”.

Every day, our helpline operators encounter a wide variety of cases and personal stories — some simple, some complex, linked to deep inner turmoil or real external pressures. Sometimes it’s an acute crisis requiring immediate intervention, and sometimes it’s internal fears or medical helplessness in everyday life.

MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL SUPPORT

The war has taken a heavy toll on people’s mental health. According to our surveys, 92% of sex workers report a significant deterioration in their psychological and emotional state: they complain of constant anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks and fear for their loved ones.

Raisa (Раїса), a psychologist at the Hotline, explains:

“On top of the usual stress caused by the shelling, there is a specific kind of pressure. Women come to us feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt. They are forced into sex work under the pressure of public condemnation, simply to feed their children or buy medicine for their parents. Domestic violence often escalates against a backdrop of financial hardship. My role in counselling sessions is to help these young women shed this burden of guilt, restore their self-respect and find the strength to carry on living.”

Often, general anxiety hides very specific, debilitating everyday fears. Alina (Аліна) recently contacted the helpline. She had been postponing her HIV and STIs (sexually transmitted infections) for several months, citing a lack of time and money as her reasons. However, during their conversation, counsellor Olena (Олена) discovered that, in reality, the young woman was simply afraid of finding out the result. She was scared not so much by the medical side, but by the unknown: how to live on, what to do with her work, and whether someone else would find out.

Olena reassured her and explained that regular check-ups are simply a normal part of looking after our wellbeing. That the test is a way to regain control and peace of mind, as the result is highly likely to be negative, and then Alina will finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief and shake off this daily stress. But even if the test reveals something — it is by no means the end of her life or career. The counsellor explained in detail about modern medications that allow people to live a full life. And so that the young woman wouldn’t have to face this fear alone, Olena provided the contact details of our regional leader in her city, who, at Alina’s request, can help organize a visit to a friendly doctor.

Recently, psychologist Raisa spoke to a woman who had started experiencing severe panic attacks every time she went out to see a client. She cried during the consultation because she felt like a ‘bad mother’ who had to leave her child at home during air raid alerts in order to earn a living.

«Of course, it is impossible to deeply work through such complex problems in one call or one phone conversation, but it is quite possible to alleviate the condition. At times like these, my job is to help the girls overcome their acute panic, to ease their emotional distress even slightly, and to find the first points of support they need to stabilise themselves here and now», adds psychologist Raisa.

LEGAL PROTECTION: OVERCOMING STIGMA AND FEAR OF THE SYSTEM

The scale of violations of sex workers’ rights across various sectors is rising rapidly: according to our surveys, 69% of respondents have faced such violations over the past year. Most often, these take the form of unlawful police actions, discrimination in hospitals and refusals to provide social services.

“The main problem is that the women are afraid of the publicity. Because of this fear, most simply keep quiet about the crimes. Only a few agree to officially fight for the punishment of the guilty. Most refuse to take action because they are afraid that their relatives will find out about their work, or that social services will start threatening to take their children away,” says Hanna (Ганна), a lawyer with the organisation.

The following story surprised even us. A pregnant woman named Tetyana rang the helpline; she had only just learnt of her HIV-positive status. Instead of receiving professional support at the antenatal clinic, she faced severe psychological pressure: the doctor persistently demanded to terminate the pregnancy, intimidating her with the birth of a sick child.

Campaigns to prevent HIV and reduce stigma have been running in Ukraine for many years, particularly amongst healthcare workers. Despite this, we still face such appalling ignorance and outright pressure from the system.

Our counsellor dispelled the myths and calmly explained the medical facts to Tetyana: if ART is started in time, the risk of transmitting the virus to the baby virtually disappears, and giving birth to a healthy baby is entirely possible. To help Tetyana protect her rights, she was given the contact details of our paralegal in her town.

‘Of course, we cannot control every step these young women take, and their subsequent actions are always their own personal choice and responsibility. But we provide this bridge — contacts for partner HIV service and human rights organisations, our regional leaders or paralegals who are ready to help on the ground, accompany or support them in a safe environment. We provide this process as a real opportunity to change the situation – for example, to switch healthcare providers or address biased behaviour on the part of doctors. Whether a woman will seek this help further is up to her. But for us, it is of fundamental importance that, in a moment of despair, she receives this tool, feels supported and simply knows that there is a way out,” – Sofia (Софія), a Hotline operator.

WHAT KINDS OF ISSUES DO WE HELP WITH?

The range of problems that young people bring to our helpline is extremely wide. In addition to acute crises, our hotline operators are helping to solve many practical and "paper" issues in various areas every day:

1. Health:

• Prevention and treatment of HIV/STIs, drug addiction, hepatitis and tuberculosis.
• Finding trusted, friendly doctors and specialists who are ready to help and advise without judgement or stigma.
• Psychological distress, depression, constant anxiety and panic attacks (particularly those exacerbated by the war).

2. Family life and parenthood:

• Problems in family relationships, divorce and related issues.
• Protection of parental rights in cases where, due to involvement in sex work, drug addiction or other chronic illnesses, a woman is being intimidated, blackmailed or deprived of her parental rights.

3. Administrative services and social protection:

• Restoration of lost essential documents (Ukrainian passports, birth certificates, etc.).
• Applying for state aid, pensions, guardianship, etc.
• Interaction with the State Enforcement Service (solving complex problems with debts, loans or arrests of accounts).

4.  Legalisation of income (sole traders):

• Registration of a sole trader or termination (closure) of business activities as a sole trader (guidance on selecting the correct Classification of Types of Economic Activity, taxation systems and filing of returns).

5. Violations of rights:

• Unlawful actions by representatives of law enforcement agencies, medical, social and other state institutions.

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU

The Hotline of the CO “Legalife-Ukraine” works every day. We’re not here to lecture you, give you a telling-off or tell you how to live your life. Our aim is to listen, protect your rights and help you find a way out when it feels as though you’re surrounded by brick walls.

If you need support, advice from a psychologist or lawyer, or simply someone who will listen without judgement — give us a call. You’re not alone; our community is always here for you.

Team of the CO “Legalife-Ukraine”

The project "Solidarity in Action: A Project to Support Women, Girls, and Other Vulnerable Individuals Engaged in Sex Work Amidst Military Aggression" is being implemented by the charitable organization "Legalife-Ukraine" with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). The WPHF is a flexible and rapid financing mechanism that supports quality initiatives aimed at enhancing the capacity of local women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.

This publication was prepared with the financial support of the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), but this does not imply that the views expressed or the content are officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations.