In an interview with Ukrinform, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kateryna Pavlychenko discussed the investigation of sexual crimes committed by Russian troops against Ukrainian civilians.
"Sexual crimes in wartime are heinous acts committed by Russian soldiers on Ukrainian territory. These are latent crimes, difficult to detect and investigate. Despite having no statute of limitations (as they are war crimes), survivors often do not wish to speak out or report them," said Pavlychenko.
According to the statistics from the Office of the Prosecutor General, 310 cases of sexual violence in wartime conditions have been documented. Most of the victims are women (almost 200), while 113 are men, and there are 15 minors.
The statistics cover not only rape but also forced exposure and threats of rape. These crimes have occurred mainly in occupied regions, with the highest numbers in Kherson, followed by Kyiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Chernihiv regions.
Pavlychenko highlighted that these crimes have mostly been documented by the National Police. Special groups were created to document such war crimes after the liberation of occupied territories. These groups have visited nearly 700 settlements and interviewed over 20,000 civilians.
The deputy minister added that specialized groups are now less frequently deployed, focusing on existing cases requiring additional information or witness testimony. When other territories are liberated, similar police units will be sent to document these crimes.
As of now, the Office of the Prosecutor General has uncovered 87 cases of wartime sexual violence. Suspicions have been reported against 48 Russian soldiers, and 21 indictments have been filed against 30 individuals. Five individuals have already been sentenced to imprisonment, while other cases are still under investigation or awaiting court proceedings.
