The UN receives over 150 appeals regarding acts of sexual violence committed by Russian forces in Ukraine

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO — SATURDAY, 23 JULY 2022, 22:04

The UN has received over 150 appeals regarding acts of sexual violence committed by Russian troops in Ukraine since 24 February 2022, and this is only "the tip of the iceberg."

Source: Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflicts, in a video address to the participants of the Second Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, quoted in Ukrinform

Quote: "Since 24 February, the UN has received more than 150 allegations of sexual violence committed against women, children and men. These are cases of rape at machine-gunpoint and in the presence of family members, that occurred in the wake of the Russian forces’ attack on Ukraine."

Details: Patten noted that sexual violence is a crime that is "chronically underreported," and added that "we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg."

According to the special representative of the UN Secretary General, this is one of the most destructive forms of violence, which during military conflicts is committed mostly against women and girls, but also against men and boys.

Earlier: At the end of June, it was reported that the UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine recorded over 300 murders, including executions of civilians in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts during the occupation of those oblasts by the Russian army. The mission was also able to verify and confirm 23 cases of conflict-related sexual violence.