Sexual violence perpetrated by Russian troops will leave deep, long-term wounds on Ukrainian society. Government officials emphasize that official statistics capture only a fraction of the real scale of these crimes, and support for survivors must be provided without pressure or coercion.
Source: Interfax
A “Generational Trauma”: The Long-Term Impact of Wartime Sexual Violence
Speaking at the international conference “United for Justice” in Kyiv, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka stated that the consequences of conflict-related sexual violence will remain part of Ukrainian life for decades.
“The traces of sexual violence in conflict will remain in Ukrainian society for many years,”
— Kachka said.
He stressed that sexual violence is not determined by geography, but is a recurring consequence of aggression in every major conflict worldwide. Ukraine, together with the Global Survivors Fund, has already launched a pilot program of urgent interim reparations for victims.
Ombudsman Lubinets: Real Number of Victims Far Higher Than Statistics Show
Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, also underscored the magnitude of the tragedy. According to him, current figures represent only a small portion of documented crimes.
“Official statistics do not reflect the real picture of conflict-related sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers. This is one of the key challenges,”
— he said.
Lubinets emphasized that the state must not pressure survivors to provide legal testimony.
“These people need to be heard, supported, and helped — even if they do not want to go through official procedures. The system must not retraumatize them.”
Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War
Kachka noted that sexual violence does not stem from cultural or national factors, but from the very nature of war, which unleashes aggression and destroys fundamental boundaries of safety.
“This is not a geographic phenomenon. It comes with aggression and military action,”
— he explained.
International Cooperation: From Declarations to Practical Action
The Global Alliance to Prevent Sexual Violence in Conflict was established by the United Kingdom in 2022.
In 2023, it officially began its work — with Ukraine serving as co-chair. Today, the Alliance includes 33 countries and international institutions, with the Democratic Republic of Congo set to assume the next chairmanship.
The Alliance’s goals include:
- coordination of state efforts,
- sharing best practices in survivor assistance,
- ensuring justice for victims,
- building systematic reparations mechanisms.
Documented Crimes by the UN: The Known Scope of the Atrocities
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission documented 376 cases of conflict-related sexual violence between February 24, 2022, and August 31, 2024. Victims include:
- women,
- men,
- girls,
- boys.
However, the UN stresses that the actual number of survivors is significantly higher, as many do not seek help due to fear, stigma, or trauma.
Ukraine is working to ensure that every person who has experienced sexual violence during the war receives support. Yet experts warn that the consequences of these crimes will remain a painful part of the country’s collective memory for decades.
