Ukrainians in Durban demand more protection for women, children in war-torn country

They have called for more protection for vulnerable groups there as they marched along the Umhlanga Promenade on Sunday. 

Some demonstrators wore T-shirts covered in red paint to signify the bloodshed following Russia's invasion in February. 

"We can't sleep. We are anxious," says Katya Fedkina, who is with the Ukrainian Association in SA. 

READ: SA-based Ukrainians march in Durban over Russia's invasion

"Our country is getting destroyed. Our people are dying. Our children and our women are getting raped. Our soldiers are tortured, and we all feel the same pain. Even it if is now my father who managed to escape Ukraine, I feel for everyone in Ukraine." 

Kyiv has accused Moscow of massive and flagrant human rights violations. 

Fedkina says sexual abuse is being used as a weapon.

"To humiliate and to suppress and scare the women in our country and it is horrifying and terrifying especially because they also do it to children.”