Humanitarian aid
UN Report Finds Over 1,000 Sexual Violence Cases in Ukraine, Mostly Attributed to Russian Forces
A UN human‑rights office report documents more than 1,000 sexual‑violence incidents in Ukraine through July 2026, with 89 % linked to Russian authorities and men comprising the majority of victims. The findings note repeated assaults in detention, the use of electric shocks via a Soviet‑era field telephone, and victims ranging from a four‑year‑old girl to an 82‑year‑old woman.
Extent of documented abuse
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has compiled a record of more than one thousand incidents of sexual violence affecting civilians and prisoners of war in Ukraine from the invasion’s outset through July 2026. The catalogue lists crimes such as gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks to the genitals and other degrading acts. While violations were reported on both sides of the front line, the data show a pronounced disparity in magnitude, with the overwhelming majority of cases originating from areas under Russian control throughout the conflict.
Perpetrators and patterns
According to the mission’s analysis, Russian forces—including members of the armed services, prison agencies and the national security apparatus—were linked to 89 percent of the documented cases. Ukrainian authorities were associated with the remaining 11 percent, and roughly half of those incidents involved threats rather than physical assault. The report highlights that among former prisoners of war, almost three‑quarters reported experiencing sexual violence on more than one occasion, while nearly half of all detained civilians said they suffered repeated assaults. A notable method cited was the use of a Soviet‑era field telephone to deliver electric shocks to the genitals, a technique endured by at least 155 Ukrainian POWs.
Victim profile and UN response
Men constitute the majority of identified victims, especially within detention facilities, but women and children have also been targeted, primarily in occupied territories. The documented age range spans from a four‑year‑old girl to an 82‑year‑old woman, both assaulted by Russian forces. Testimonies describe repeated rapes in private homes, forced penetration with improvised objects and threats of gang rape against family members. In response, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an immediate cessation of all sexual violence and urged the Russian Federation to adopt concrete measures to protect civilians and prisoners of war from such abuse.