UN Report Finds Widespread Sexual Violence In Ukraine War, Most Cases Tied To Russia

The United Nations human rights office has released a report documenting widespread sexual violence in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. According to the report, 1,004 verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence have been recorded through February 2026, with 89% of these cases attributed to Russian forces, including members of the armed forces, prison service and security agencies. A smaller percentage, 11%, were linked to Ukrainian authorities, primarily involving threats of sexual violence and physical abuse. The report highlights severe abuses, including gang rape, genital mutilation, and the use of electric shocks on men’s genitals with a Soviet-era field telephone known as a “tapik.” The report notes that most victims were men, particularly prisoners of war and detainees, though women and children were also affected, especially in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. The youngest documented victim was a four-year-old girl, and the oldest was an 82-year-old woman, both subjected to sexual violence by Russian forces. The report emphasizes that sexual violence in conflicts is often perceived as targeting women and girls, yet in the context of the Ukraine war, the majority of survivors are men. Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, stated that men and women require distinct approaches to recovery. Russian authorities have refused to allow the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) access to occupied Ukrainian territories, prisoners of war and civilian detainees, leading the report to conclude that the actual scale of violations is likely underestimated. The report also mentions that Russian forces conducted sexual violence against Ukrainian prisoners of war and detained civilians throughout the process of capture, transfer, interrogation and detention. These acts include not only direct sexual assault but also degrading treatment and threats of sexual violence. In contrast, Ukrainian authorities were found to have committed fewer instances of sexual violence, with nearly half of the violations attributed to them involving threats of sexual violence and genital beatings. While the Ukrainian government granted the UN mission unrestricted access to prisoner-of-war camps and detention facilities, the report noted that efforts to hold perpetrators accountable remain limited. OHCHR did not document any cases of rape of Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces. The report underscores the severity of the situation, with many victims recounting deeply disturbing experiences. Some Ukrainian prisoners of war described being tasered in the genitals using a “tapik,” with 155 individuals reporting this experience at least once. Others were subjected to extreme forms of sexual violence, including being raped with a baton, cell door keys, or even a shovel handle. Women and children in occupied areas faced similar horrors, with some describing repeated sexual assaults by Russian soldiers who promised better treatment for their detained husbands in exchange. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed deep concern over the prevalence of these crimes, stating that they are “almost certainly continuing amid the unceasing violence.” He called for immediate action to stop such acts, emphasizing that the Russian Federation must take decisive steps to protect civilians and prisoners of war from all forms of torture, including sexual violence. The report also highlights the challenges in fully documenting the extent of these violations due to underreporting and restricted access. Despite the detailed accounts gathered from hundreds of victims, the true magnitude of the issue remains obscured. The findings serve as a grim reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the urgent need for international attention and intervention.