Police investigate 54 cases of sexual violence against Ukrainians by Russian soldiers

The head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhivskyi, shared the information in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, the procedure for putting the suspects on the international wanted list is currently underway. 

The police officer noted that torture and sexual violence during the war are very sensitive and latent crimes. Therefore, those who have been victims of violence do not always want to report it.

According to Vyhivskyi, in September 2023, the police served a suspicion in absentia on a Russian Guard serviceman who, together with his accomplices, committed violent acts against more than 200 Ukrainians from March to October 2022 during the occupation of Kherson. These were mostly activists, volunteers and relatives of law enforcement officers.

"They were beaten, tortured, and deprived of food and water. At least 24 people were subjected to sexual torture by the occupiers in the form of electric shocks to the genitals," the head of the National Police emphasized.

He added that after the liberation of the Kyiv region, facts of sexual violence against women and children were established. The youngest victim is four years old, Vyhivskyi noted. 

• In June 2022, the Ukrainian National Police opened 16 criminal proceedings against Russian military personnel over rape, and three were notified of suspicion. In May of the same year, the Prosecutor General's Office sent to court the first case of wartime rape by a Russian military officer.

• At the same time, it was reported that earlier UN Security Council documents condemned any form of sexual violence, which can never be forgiven, justified, or amnestied.

• In September 2023, a Russian soldier who forced girls to drink alcohol and raped them in the occupied part of the Kherson region was notified of suspicion of violating the laws and customs of war.

• Later, in October, Ukraine brought to court the case of a Russian soldier who intimidated and raped a resident of the Kherson region during the occupation of the region in July 2022.