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War in Ukraine

Russia Using Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War in Ukraine, Foreign Ministry Says

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
News Writer
A view of damage at a police station where the detainees were tortured and ill-treated by the Russian forces in Kherson city center, November 16, 2022.
A view of damage at a police station where the detainees were tortured and ill-treated by the Russian forces in Kherson city center, November 16, 2022. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry marked the International Day for the Elimination of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence on June 19 by calling for stronger international pressure on Russia and accountability for crimes committed during Moscow’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The ministry said that in the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, conflict-related sexual violence remains one of the gravest crimes against humanity committed by Russian occupation forces and occupation administrations.

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According to the ministry, Russia has used sexual violence systematically as a method of warfare, an instrument of terror and intimidation, and a way to destroy human dignity and instill fear.

Ukraine said it continues to work closely with international monitoring mechanisms, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

These mechanisms, the ministry said, have collected extensive evidence of such crimes and confirmed their systematic nature.

According to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, hundreds of cases of conflict-related sexual violence have been confirmed, including against women, men, minor girls, and boys. The ministry said the documented crimes include rape, mutilation or violence against genital organs, forced nudity, threats and attempted rape, and forcing victims to witness sexual abuse against relatives.

The youngest confirmed victim of crimes committed by Russian servicemen was four years old, while the oldest was 83, the ministry said.

Ukraine also drew attention to the UN Secretary-General’s report on conflict-related sexual violence, published on May 29, 2026. For the first time, Russian armed forces and security structures were included in the so-called “list of shame” for alleged sexual violence in armed conflict.

Kyiv said that the designation should become grounds for banning Russia from participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

The UN report said Russian armed forces and security services were blacklisted for sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilians detained during the war in Ukraine.

“Russian armed and security forces were also blacklisted for the first time this year for sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilians detained during the war in Ukraine,” the report said.

According to the findings, Russian authorities have consistently denied access to UN human rights investigators. Despite that, investigators were able to verify 310 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in Russia and in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, involving prisoners of war and civilians. The report said the vast majority of identified victims were men.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called on the international community, UN member states, international governmental and non-governmental human rights and humanitarian organizations, and relevant mechanisms to intensify political, diplomatic, and sanctions pressure on Russia.

The ministry emphasized the goal must be to end Russia’s state policy of using sexual violence as a tool of war and to bring all those responsible to justice under international law.

Ukraine said protecting the rights and safety of survivors, ensuring access to justice, and providing professional assistance will remain priority tasks in cooperation with international partners.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said that Russia uses 695 different forms of torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war, including physical and psychological abuse as well as sexual violence.

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