Survivors of sexual violence in Ukraine struggle to be heard after Russian soldiers committed numerous acts of aggression. The trauma and restricted access to occupied territories make documenting these crimes challenging. NGO SEMA Ukraine revealed that rapes began in 2014, numbering in the thousands since 2022. These crimes target women, children, and men, affecting civilians and soldiers in Russian prisons.
Oleksandra Matviichuk, a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been documenting these crimes since 2014, shedding light on the widespread, underreported violence. Federation of Dr. Denis Mukwege supports the organization, aiming to uncover the magnitude of these violations. With only 209 identified cases, further investigations are ongoing.
Behind closed doors in Moscow-controlled territories, mass-scale crimes continue, with reports of 2,000 civilians held captive, facing sexual abuse and torture. These systematic rapes, part of a war strategy, are classified as crimes against humanity or genocide, requiring global attention and advocacy for justice.
‘Breaking the silence’
The alarming prevalence of these atrocities demands international action and accountability for the perpetrators of these heinous acts. Victims of sexual violence in Ukraine deserve justice and recognition, highlighting the urgency of addressing these crimes effectively.