Sexual violence is a purposeful weapon of the Russians in the war against the Ukrainians

Russians use sexual violence against Ukrainians to destroy a person. The consequences of such crimes are felt not only by those who survived them. They spread throughout society, increasing collective psychological trauma and feelings of vulnerability and defenselessness.

June 19 is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Military Conflicts

UN member states are calling for an end to sexual violence during military conflicts, to honor the memory of those who died under these tortures and to pay tribute to those who dedicated their lives to help survivors.

Everyone sees destroyed Ukrainian cities, streets littered with building debris, wounded and dead. However, reports of sexual violence during military conflicts are often “drowned” in the conditions of total disaster, terror and chaos of war. But conflict-related sexual violence is a flagrant war crime.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, sexual violence related to the conflict has become a common method of demoralizing and suppressing the will of peaceful residents of occupied cities. These horrific tactics are designed to instill fear, instill control, and inflict lasting trauma on both individuals and entire communities.

Those who experienced such terrible events in Ukraine often try to distance themselves from sad memories as soon as possible. The emotional pain, shame, and often self-blame associated with abuse can make people reluctant to share their experiences or seek justice. They may feel isolated and choose not to testify or discuss the past with anyone, wanting to protect themselves from further suffering.

Victims of sexual violence during military conflicts suffer from social stigmatization

In addition, they often face prejudice in society, which further discourages them from seeking the help and support they desperately need and are willing to provide. This is evidenced by both their own voices and the results of the study “Society’s attitude towards crimes of sexual violence during the Russian-Ukrainian war”, which was conducted in May 2023 under the auspices of USAID.

Across demographic groups, younger men and older women (ages 55 and over) were found to exhibit the highest levels of prejudice against victims of sexual violence during military conflicts. There is also a glimmer of hope in the fact that people usually do not perceive victims of sexual violence during military conflicts as “themselves to blame”. Moreover, Ukrainians are ready to help directly, including learning how to communicate correctly so as not to cause harm.

Why do crimes of sexual violence during military conflicts usually take years to investigate?

This culture of silence and reluctance to speak out is a significant obstacle to addressing sexual violence in military conflicts. It is already known for certain that the Russian aggressors in Ukraine committed and are committing mass sexual violence against the civilian population in the occupied territories. sexual violence during military conflicts requires a pre-trial hearing only with the informed consent of the victim. At the same time, all actions stop if she says “stop”.

And although law enforcement officers in certain cases understand that sexual violence was committed during military conflicts, they do not have the right to pressure. Only the expectation of readiness to testify.

Most survivors of violence do not want to report the crimes they have experienced, precisely because of stigma and false societal prejudices. Victims are sometimes silent for years!

There are currently 208 registered cases of sexual violence during military conflicts committed in the temporarily occupied territories. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. In addition, law enforcement agencies discovered 13 cases of sexual violence against minors by the occupiers. However, unfortunately, the real number of such crimes is probably much higher.

Access to information is further limited due to the fact that some affected children have gone abroad with their parents or remain in temporarily occupied territories. In addition, there are minors who were forcibly deported to the Russian Federation – contact with them has been lost.

The inevitability of punishing perpetrators of sexual violence during military conflicts is an integral part of Ukraine’s aspirations

People firmly believe in Ukraine’s ability to bring to justice Russians guilty of sexual violence during military conflicts. This common belief resonates deeply in the hearts of Ukrainians, who perceive the problem of sexual crimes as a collective pain. The trial of perpetrators of sexual violence during military conflicts is an issue of extreme importance that affects everyone on a personal level. It is a great calamity that has united the nation in its quest for justice.

Ukrainians understand that it takes time and perseverance to achieve this goal, but they are steadfast in their determination to achieve ambitious goals. They are unwilling to settle for anything less than comprehensive justice. It is comforting and encouraging to realize that Ukraine is not alone in its desire for justice. The tangible support received from the international community further strengthens this hope.

Currently, we have only one conviction in absentia – a serviceman of the Russian Armed Forces was convicted as a direct perpetrator of sexual violence during military conflicts to 12 years in prison. But international humanitarian law does not provide for any statute of limitations for these types of crimes. Therefore, the Russians will not be able to evade responsibility for sexual violence during military conflicts. They will be wanted all over the world for the rest of their miserable lives and will surely be tried and punished as war criminals.