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A UN official claimed Russia is using rape as its “military strategy” in Ukraine — providing soldiers with drugs to sexually assault civilians.
“When you hear women testify about Russian soldiers equipped with Viagra, it’s clearly a military strategy,” Pramila Patten, UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict, told the AFP.
Patten added that the UN has verified “more than a hundred cases” of rape or sexual assault since the invasion began in February. Victims have largely included girls and women, but boys and men have been raped, too.
In September, the head of the organization’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry into Ukraine wrote that Russian forces were committing war crimes against civilians, including rape, torture and unlawful confinement.
The commission head noted that victims of sexual and gender-based violence ranged from four to 82, and in some some cases, family members have been forced to watch the acts.
“Reported cases are only the tip of the iceberg,” Patten told the AFP, but added that it is difficult to maintain accurate statistics during an active violent conflict. “The numbers will never reflect reality, because sexual violence is a silent crime.”
Russia has denied war crime allegations.
A UN official claimed Russia is using rape as its “military strategy” in Ukraine — providing soldiers with drugs to sexually assault civilians.
“When you hear women testify about Russian soldiers equipped with Viagra, it’s clearly a military strategy,” Pramila Patten, UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict, told the AFP.
Patten added that the UN has verified “more than a hundred cases” of rape or sexual assault since the invasion began in February. Victims have largely included girls and women, but boys and men have been raped, too.
In September, the head of the organization’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry into Ukraine wrote that Russian forces were committing war crimes against civilians, including rape, torture and unlawful confinement.
The commission head noted that victims of sexual and gender-based violence ranged from four to 82, and in some some cases, family members have been forced to watch the acts.
“Reported cases are only the tip of the iceberg,” Patten told the AFP, but added that it is difficult to maintain accurate statistics during an active violent conflict. “The numbers will never reflect reality, because sexual violence is a silent crime.”
Russia has denied war crime allegations.
