DNIPRO, Ukraine- In January, the lifeless body of Liubov Borniakova, a 34-year-old woman from the city of Dnipro in central Ukraine, was discovered in her home. The coroner's report revealed that she had suffered from a shocking 75 bruises.

According to Borniakova's aunt and a neighbor, her husband, Yakov Borniakov, had been hiding inside their apartment for the past month after deserting from the army. During that time, he repeatedly subjected her to brutal beatings while under the influence of alcohol, leading to her untimely death.

Kateryna Vedrentseva, the aunt, recounted the horrific scene she witnessed when she arrived at Borniakova's home on the night of January 8th. Liubov's body was covered in bruises from head to toe, leaving no part of her untouched.

 The Dnipro police confirmed that a criminal investigation into Liubov Borniakova's death was ongoing but did not disclose further details.

Following Russia's invasion in February 2022, Ukraine initially saw a decline in registered cases of domestic violence as people sought safety by fleeing the conflict zones.

However, as families returned to their homes or resettled in new areas, domestic violence cases sharply increased. National police data, previously unreported, revealed a 51% surge in registered cases during the first five months of this year compared to the same period in 2022. This number was more than a third higher than the previous record set in 2020, which was linked to pandemic lockdowns.

Experts and officials in the field attributed the rise in domestic violence to heightened stress, economic hardships, unemployment, and trauma caused by the ongoing conflict.

Tragically, the majority of victims are women, who bear the brunt of these distressing circumstances. Ukraine's commissioner for gender policy, Kateryna Levchenko, emphasized that the increase in domestic violence is a consequence of the psychological tension and difficulties faced by people who have lost everything due to the conflict.

The situation of domestic violence in Ukraine is highly concerning, with police recording 349,355 cases from January to May 2023, showing a significant increase compared to previous years. Experts fear that the problem will worsen as the war persists and that the impact will endure long after the conflict ends due to the trauma experienced by returning troops. Dnipro, acting as a transit point for displaced individuals, faces a complex situation.

A relief center established by the government and UNFPA has provided support to 800 survivors of domestic violence, mostly women, but only around 35% of them filed complaints with the police. This indicates that the actual prevalence of domestic violence could be much higher than reported.

Psychologists emphasize the vulnerability of those displaced to unfamiliar environments, making them more dependent on their abusers. Urgent and comprehensive support and intervention are needed to protect victims and prevent further escalation of domestic violence cases.

The situation of domestic violence in Ukraine remains critical, exacerbated by the challenges faced by displaced families due to the ongoing war. Financial struggles, stress, and conflict have contributed to an alarming rise in domestic violence cases. The resources of the state have been stretched thin, impacting support services for victims, and traumatized troops returning from the front add to the concern.

A tragic example is Liubov Borniakova's case, where her husband's violent actions led to her death. Despite evidence of intense beatings, the initial police investigation did not recognize domestic violence as the cause of her demise. Securing charges for domestic violence is considered a victory, but the current legal system's maximum prison sentence is inadequate, often resulting in minor fines or community service.

Reforms have been made to treat domestic violence as a crime, but there is still a need to change the prevailing view that it is a private matter. Liubov Borniakova's story highlights the urgent need to address the challenges and shortcomings in handling domestic violence cases in Ukraine.