United Nations documents systematic sexual violence in Ukraine

A United Nations report has documented over 1,000 verified cases of sexual violence in Ukraine since February 2022, describing an “impactful pattern of torture, intimidation, and coercion.” The findings from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights indicate that Russian forces—including the military, security services, and prison authorities—are responsible for 89% of the documented cases.

The report details extreme forms of abuse, such as gang rape, genital mutilation, and the use of electric shocks to the genitals. Many male victims, particularly prisoners of war and medical personnel, were subjected to sexual torture during interrogations and detention. In occupied territories, women and children have also been targeted, with victims ranging in age from 4 to 82 years old.

High Commissioner Volker Türk expressed deep alarm over the prevalence of these “abominable acts” and called on Moscow to take concrete measures to protect civilians and prisoners. The UN warned that the actual number of victims likely exceeds the verified count due to limited access to occupied regions.