“Women are increasingly turning to the internet to find clients”, Marina Chaban, Sumy, Ukraine

WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS ‘ABOUT WAR AND SEX WORK IN UKRAINE’ with our leaders and paralegals in 2026. Almost a year has passed since our last public conversation with our regional representatives, when we talked about the lives of Ukrainians, the fate of sex workers and the sphere of sex services in Ukraine during the war. This year, we return to this conversation to recall the events of four years of this war and analyse their impact on our community and society.

Marina Chaban (Марина Чабан) is the leader of the sex workers’ community at the CO “LEGALIFE-UKRAINE” in Sumy city, Ukraine.

Natalia Dorofeeva, CO “Legalife-Ukraine” (ND): Hello, Marina! I’m delighted to meet you again. A lot has happened over the past year, so I’m curious to know: what key changes have taken place in your life, your state of mind or your personal priorities?

Marina Chaban: Several significant events have taken place in my life this year: my eldest daughter gave birth, so I’ve become a grandmother! I’ve also decided to move from Sumy to a village in the Sumy district, and I’ve bought a house which I’m currently fitting out. I am expecting my children in a new house, because the security situation in Sumy is difficult. In general, last year was with its challenges, experiences and joys — just like for everyone else.

ND: This year, I’m asking women leaders about their experiences and reflections during the Great War. So, how has your initiative group changed over this 4 years? And what new challenges, specific to the Sumy region, is your community facing today?

Marina: Over the four years of the full-scale invasion our Sumy initiative group has certainly faced various challenges — both personal and war-related: relocations, evacuation, living under constant explosions and air raid sirens.

Generally speaking, the composition of our group is constantly changing — women migrate between regions of Ukraine in search of shelter, and some have left the country altogether. Involvement in the initiative group’s (IG) activities is situational — there are periods when women are more active, often this is associated with an improvement in the military situation in the region. There are also times when activity levels dip, which is likely linked to the deteriorating security situation.

Despite this, there is always a sense of mutual support, sisterhood and a willingness to offer each other moral support within the group. The girls get together for information sessions and joint activities, sharing their thoughts and feelings.

Previously, when the city was calmer, we actively involved medical professionals, psychologists, lawyers and colleagues from other organisations in group consultations. Our girls regularly received verified information from specialists at the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU) (Українська Гельсінська Спілка з Прав Людини - УГСПЛ), the Regional Centre for Socially Dangerous Diseases, the CF “VOLNA” (БФ “ВОЛНА”), the Confidence NGO and the Rescue Centre, among others. Unfortunately, the current security situation severely limits the possibilities for such face-to-face meetings.

Nevertheless, I am certain that it is precisely thanks to our group’s work that the girls have begun to navigate their rights and the social and humanitarian spheres of Sumy much more effectively. I can already see, albeit cautiously, certain positive developments in this direction.

Initiative group of CO “Legalife-Ukraine”, Sumy, 2025

ND: Against the backdrop of the deteriorating security situation in Sumy, what broader changes do you observe in society and community life? How, in your view, are relationships between people transforming under the pressure of chronic stress, mobilisation processes and other challenges brought about by the war?

Marina: In my opinion, people have become much more tense. Life in a town near the front line means a daily dose of bad news, losses and financial difficulties – all of which is exhausting and leaves us emotionally vulnerable. You can feel it even in everyday life: there’s more harshness, irritation, and some kind of internal distrust.

At the same time, I can see how mutual support has grown stronger. People have started to hold on tighter to their own: friends, colleagues, family, brothers-in-arms and sisters-in-arms, and so on. We’ve started to rally around those we trust.

If I were to compare, during the first year of full-scale war there was such a frenzied emotional surge: people joined volunteering en masse, helping everyone and everywhere, even those who had previously been far removed from activism. Now, in my view, volunteering has become more measured and professional. Stable core groups have formed, and there is a clear understanding of needs. People have learnt to allocate resources rationally and set priorities — what is essential right now, and what can wait.

ND: Has society’s attitude towards sex workers and other vulnerable groups changed in any way? Do you encounter aggression on social media or in real life because of your work and activism?

Marina: It seems that more people are starting to think about the rights of vulnerable groups, because they can see how easily anyone can find themselves in a difficult situation. The war has shown that anyone can lose their job, their home, their partner, and be left with children without any support. Because of this, I believe that part of society has become more accepting of professions that were previously condemned.

As for hate, condemnation or persecution because of my work with female sex workers or other vulnerable communities in the Sumy region, I personally haven’t encountered any of that. My close circle treats my work with understanding and respect.

A working meeting with a community psychologist regarding the implementation of psycho-emotional and psychological support measures for sex workers in Sumy, 2025

ND: Let’s talk directly about sex work and the impact the war has had on people in this sector. What major changes have taken place in the sex services market over the years of the war? How have working conditions changed, and have any new trends emerged that weren’t there before?

Marina: At the start of the full-scale invasion, I wasn’t yet working with the sex workers’ community in the Sumy region, but even in recent years I’ve noticed significant changes in the sex work market.

Firstly, working conditions have become considerably more risky: the security situation in the region has deteriorated, and some areas have become almost inaccessible due to constant shelling. Consequently, women are migrating from region to region, or leaving Ukraine altogether. Those who have gone to other countries, unfortunately, have not returned home permanently. Some of our clients occasionally visit relatives or acquaintances in safer parts of the country and, after resting, return home.

Secondly, working online has become much more common. Women are increasingly looking for clients online or moving to the digital space for initial contact, which significantly minimises risks. Most try to work exclusively with trusted, familiar people, avoiding new contacts for their own safety.

I’ve also noticed that instances of people providing sexual services in exchange for food or drugs have become more frequent, or at least more visible—against the backdrop of the war, in my view, this has become a stark reality. For example, I know a woman — a mother of many children who has to support her family on her own and feed her children every day. Of course, she receives some financial assistance, but it is woefully inadequate, so she earns extra money in this way. Often, she says, clients simply buy her food or cover other household needs.

When she reached out, we naturally helped her with humanitarian aid packages sent to the region by CO ‘Legalife-Ukraine’. The reasons for this situation are obvious: war, economic instability, migration, and the constant search for at least some safe and manageable conditions for survival.

Group counselling session with a psychologist, Sumy, 2025

ND: Would you say that the deterioration in the economic situation and the drop in earnings have affected the majority of the community? And have you noticed an influx of new people into the sector, particularly among internally displaced persons (IDPs)?

Marina: Regarding IDPs, it’s difficult for me to provide specific statistics. New women do approach our group from time to time. Usually they come for specific help, for example, for advice from a paralegal, and that is where our interaction ends. However, there are also those who stay with us for the long term and actively attend all our events.

As for income, this is usually a private matter, but I can see certain trends. Before the war, earnings were predictable, and many had a stable base of regular clients. At the start of the invasion, everyone’s income plummeted. Survival, evacuation and escaping the shelling were the top priorities — people had no time for sex work. Then there was a period of adaptation, there was a certain increase in both prices and the amount of work. Today, the situation has stabilised somewhat, but it remains tense. The main factor now is not so much money as the security risks, which are only increasing.

ND: You mentioned that security risks are now the determining factor. Do they include an increase in the level of violence—both in the professional sphere and in everyday life? And how, in general, do girls manage to look after their own health and lives in border areas?

Marina: The problem of gender-based domestic violence or violence at work, unfortunately, is not going away, but I cannot say that there has been a sharp spike. The topics of violence, conflicts in society and with those close to them constantly come up during our individual and group consultations with members of the initiative group. Undoubtedly, the women have learnt a great deal over the years: they can now distinguish between different forms of violence, have a better understanding of their rights, and know they can count on our support.

But the main thing today is that women have learnt to adapt to the harsh realities of life in the border region. This includes reacting instantly to explosions or air raid sirens, observing the curfew, and avoiding travel to the areas most frequently under fire.

As for health protection, I believe my clients have become more cautious. My paralegal and I constantly inform them where in Sumy they can get free condoms and lubricants, and refer them for anonymous testing for HIV, hepatitis or syphilis. If necessary, we accompany them to the clinic and support them. So I very much hope that the girls are increasingly less likely to agree to risky practices and are trying to look after themselves, even at a time like this.

Humanitarian aid for sex workers from the CO ‘Legalife-Ukraine’ in Sumy, 2025

ND: Marina, given everything you’ve told us, how have the community’s needs regarding our services changed over the past four years? What requests from sex workers are most pressing at the moment, and what services do you provide in response?

Marina: Economic problems remain perhaps the most pressing issue today: food prices, rent and utility bills are rising rapidly. At the same time, many women are supporting underage children or elderly parents on their own, or helping relatives who are internally displaced persons. Everything comes together here: the general situation in the country, the specific nature of our border region, and the personal circumstances and experiences of each woman.

As a community leader, my primary role is to distribute the humanitarian aid we receive from the  CO ‘Legalife-Ukraine’. This is a massive help. Food, hygiene products, warm clothes and so on — these are the basics without which it is impossible to think about either safety or health. For many young women, these kits offer a chance to ‘plug the gap’ in their budget and not worry about food for at least a week or two. Moreover, in our current situation, with constant shelling and power cuts in Sumy, having a stock of essentials at home is vital, and it is very difficult to build one up on your own with limited funds.

As well as providing food and supplies, we are working hard on education and psychological resilience. I run group counselling sessions for our initiative group: we discuss everything from disease prevention to psychological resilience. There is now a significantly increased demand for physical safety and emotional support. Together with the group, we decide which specialists to invite to the meetings—whether a psychologist, an infectious disease specialist, or a lawyer. It is important to us that the women have a clear understanding of how to act in any given critical situation. We try to be flexible and respond to what is currently causing distress within the community.

If there is a report of a rights violation, our paralegal handles it. Women receive paralegal advice on how to restore their rights or access services, and, where necessary, support or referral to professional lawyers. We help women resolve family conflicts or misunderstandings in public and private institutions. We teach them to defend their rights independently and provide access to free legal aid in Sumy.

‘Dignity Kits’ for sex workers from the CO ‘Legalife-Ukraine’ in Sumy, 2025

ND: Have you managed to establish cooperation with state institutions over the years? And what does supporting sex workers in a frontline city look like in practice — where do you usually turn to and what challenges do you face?

Marina: When it comes to direct cooperation, we interact most closely with municipal medical institutions. Doctors are keen to attend our meetings with the initiative group, talking about HIV prevention and the treatment of socially dangerous diseases. It’s a positive experience: the medical staff are open to dialogue, and we really appreciate that.

As for other government agencies, I would describe our work as ‘guidance and support’. At the moment, many young women in Sumy are just passing through or moving between districts within the region. They often have urgent needs: to undergo a medical examination, obtain a certificate, apply for benefits, or consult a lawyer. The problem is that they often do not know the conditions for receiving a particular service or exactly where to go; they frequently turn up at the wrong address or without a full set of documents.

Consequently, they may waste time, energy and nerves without ever achieving what they want. We must also take into account a vast array of internal barriers, such as fear of judgement and self-stigmatisation, negative past experiences, and so on. Girls are afraid in advance that they will be recognized or humiliated, and if they have been refused or treated rudely somewhere before, a person will not go again. War is exhausting enough as it is, and running around offices is the final straw.

We understand that if a person doesn’t get their needs met quickly, they’ll simply give up. And that means lost health or violated rights. That’s why we go with them. Either I or a paralegal accompany the girls ‘by the hand’, make arrangements in advance with friendly specialists, and advise them on exactly where in the city they can access services, whilst maintaining anonymity where possible. We become the bridge that helps the girls receive state support without unnecessary stress or humiliation.

A mutual support group for sex workers and women from other vulnerable communities, run by our partner organisation, the Volna Charitable Foundation, in Sumy, 2025

ND: It is clear that the state does not meet all the specific needs of the community. To what extent does cooperation with other NGOs and foundations help you in such circumstances? Do you feel solidarity and support from colleagues now, when everyone is working at their limits?

Marina: Cooperation with other NGOs is what helps us survive when resources are scarce. As I mentioned, we work closely with organisations that focus on legal protection and healthcare. For example, we are in constant contact with the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, the Volna Charitable Foundation, the Centre for Assistance to Survivors, the Chance Club NGO (ГО “Клуб “Шанс”), and others.

Representatives from these organisations come to our information sessions, and we can refer girls to them for targeted help and support. This includes legal, humanitarian and preventive support. There are non-governmental organisations in the city that are ready to support our target group. Our task is to tell women about these options and give them the choice of whether or not to reach out to them.

For us, this isn’t just a partnership on paper — it’s a real opportunity to refer a girl to trusted specialists, where we know for certain she won’t face stigma.

ND: Marina, I’m truly grateful to you for this conversation. Finally, could you offer some words of advice to those young women and men who have just discovered the power within themselves to change the world, but may still be hesitating?

Marina: My main piece of advice to budding activists is not to start with the idea that you have to be ‘perfect’ or ‘save everyone’. Start small, with what you can realistically manage. Even a single conversation, a single act of support, or a single delivery of humanitarian aid can change someone’s life.

Interview by Natalia Dorofeeva, CO “Legalife-Ukraine”