Russia uses sexual violence as military policy tool, Ukrainian official says
Hanna Maliar (Photo:Ministry of Defense of Ukraine)
The systematic use of sexual
violence by Russian troops in Ukraine is a conscious Kremlin policy, aiming
to intimidate, demoralize, and degrade the dignity of the civilian population,
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a Telegram post on May
22.
In her message, Maliar emphasized that the scale and severity of such crimes pose a huge challenge for Ukrainian society.
“Sexual violence remains a 'hidden crime' that leaves deep trauma, which destroys the lives of people, families, and entire communities,” Maliar writes.
“This is not just violence on a sexual basis, it is a conscious policy of the enemy state aimed at intimidation, demoralization, and degradation of the dignity of our civilian population.”
As of the end of 2022, Ukrainian law enforcement officials have recorded 155 cases of sexual violence associated with Russia's war against Ukraine, with the highest number of cases in Kherson and Kyiv Oblasts.
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