The UN documented at least 1,004 cases of sexual violence against civilians and prisoners of war in Ukraine from the start of the Russian offensive on February 24, 2022, until the end of July this year. Of that total, 89% was attributed to the Russian side and the remaining 11% to Ukrainian authorities.
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The report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concludes that sexual violence has been used as part of a “shocking pattern of torture, intimidation, and coercion.” The investigation was based on confidential interviews with hundreds of victims, as well as judicial documents and official records.
The head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Danielle Bell, warned that the cases collected do not reflect the entirety of the abuses recorded.
“It only represents a fraction of the reality,” she said.
Among the cases attributed to the Russian side are members of the armed forces, the penitentiary administration, and national security services. The United Nations attributed the remaining 11% to Ukrainian authorities.
Bell specified, however, that the characteristics and magnitude of the documented events on both sides show differences. “The pattern is not comparable in scale or scope. Almost half of the cases attributed to Ukrainian authorities consisted exclusively of threats of sexual violence,” she explained.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed concern about the continuation of these abuses amid the conflict.
“I am deeply alarmed by the prevalence of these atrocious acts (…) and fear they will continue (…) in the context of the relentless violence we witness every day in Ukraine,” he stated.
The report notes that most of the identified victims were men, especially those detained in detention centers. Cases against women and children were also documented, mainly in areas of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces.
Among the collected assaults are individual and group rapes, electric shocks, and blows to the genitals, as well as other degrading sexual acts.
Ukrainian prisoners of war reported abuses using various objects, while some women stated that Russian soldiers forcibly entered their homes and sexually assaulted them, in some cases over prolonged periods.
Given the proportion of cases attributed to Russian forces, Türk called on the Russian Federation to adopt “concrete and visible measures” to protect civilians and prisoners of war from sexual violence and other forms of torture.
The High Commissioner also urged both countries to investigate the reported incidents.
“Both Russia and Ukraine must investigate all credible allegations of sexual violence promptly, thoroughly, and impartially, and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” he affirmed.
