UN reports widespread sexual violence against civilians and POWs in Ukraine conflict

The United Nations Human Rights Office published a 20-page report on September 18 detailing 1,004 instances of sexual violence committed against civilians and prisoners of war since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. According to the report, 89% of the documented cases were attributed to Russian authorities, including members of the armed forces, prison service and national security service, while 11% were linked to Ukrainian authorities.

Interviews with hundreds of survivors, alongside court filings and official records, revealed that most victims were men detained by Russian forces, though women and children were also targeted, especially in occupied territories. The abuses described encompass gang rape, individual rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks and other degrading acts, with victims ranging in age from a four-year-old girl to an 82-year-old woman.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called the pattern of torture and intimidation “shocking” and urged accountability from both sides. The UN emphasized that the documented cases likely represent only a fraction of the total, given limited access to prisoners and occupied areas.