Russia Committed Nearly 900 Sexual Violence Crimes in Ukraine

Russian forces have committed at least 892 documented acts of conflict-related sexual violence against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war (POWs) since the start of the full-scale invasion, with the youngest victim being just 4 years old, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

The cases were detailed in a new UN report covering the period from Feb. 24, 2022, through July 31, 2026.

Among the victims were 16 children, Sybiha said, adding that the documented cases reveal what he described as the true face of the “Russkiy mir” (Russian peace).

“Terror, destruction, and suffering. Sexual violence and rape is being used as a weapon of war,” Sybiha wrote on X.

The UN documented 1,004 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine during the reporting period, attributing 892 or 89%, to Russian authorities, including members of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and the Federal Security Service (FSB).

Most of the victims of Russian abuses were men, primarily Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees. The violations included rape, gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks to genitals, forced nudity, and threats of sexual violence, according to the report.

The documented victims of Russian forces included 725 men, 151 women, and 16 children. Female victims ranged in age from 4 to 82.

Sybiha added that the confirmed cases likely represent only a fraction of the true scale of the abuse, as many survivors remain silent because of trauma, fear, or social stigma.

Other Topics of Interest

2 Killed as Russian Drone Hits 24-Story Residential Building in Kyiv

Fires erupted and cars burned after an overnight Russian drone attack struck a residential high-rise in Ukraine’s capital.

“These are only the cases that have been reported and documented. The actual number may be much higher.”

The foreign minister also accused Moscow of ignoring repeated calls from international institutions to prevent sexual violence by Russian military personnel and FSB officers, investigate reported crimes, and hold perpetrators accountable.

According to the UN, Russia has failed to demonstrate that it has taken meaningful steps to prevent or prosecute such abuses. Moscow has also denied UN monitors access to Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories and detention facilities inside Russia, limiting investigators’ ability to establish the full scale of the violations.

Sybiha said Russia’s conduct reinforced the decision to include its armed and security forces on the UN secretary-general’s “list of shame” for parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of sexual violence in armed conflict.

“These war crimes demand an even stronger response,” Sybiha said. “The perpetrators must be identified and prosecuted, while victims deserve justice.”

According to Reuters, the UN report also attributed 112 documented violations to Ukrainian authorities, mainly involving the abuse of Russian prisoners of war. It noted, however, that Ukraine had cooperated with UN investigators and taken some preventive measures, while accountability efforts remained limited.

The UN warned that its overall figures substantially understate the scale of conflict-related sexual violence because of underreporting, survivors’ fear of reprisals, and restricted access to Russian-occupied territory.