Sexual violence is a purposeful weapon of the Russians in the war against the Ukrainians

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The occupiers use sexual violence against Ukrainians to destroy people. The consequences of such crimes are felt not only by those who survived them. They spread throughout society, increasing collective psychological trauma and feelings of vulnerability and defenselessness. June 19 is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Military Conflicts. Today, UN member states are calling for an end to SNPK, to honor the memory of those who died under these tortures and to pay tribute to those who dedicated their lives to help survivors. We see destroyed Ukrainian cities, streets littered with debris, wounded and dead. But reports about the SNPK are often “drowning” in the conditions of total disaster, terror and chaos of war. But conflict-related sexual violence is a flagrant war crime. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, sexual violence related to the conflict has become a common method of demoralizing and suppressing the will of peaceful residents of occupied cities. These horrific tactics are designed to instill fear, instill control, and inflict lasting trauma on both individuals and entire communities. It is important to recognize that those who experienced such terrible events in Ukraine often seek to distance themselves from sad memories as soon as possible. The emotional pain, shame, and often self-blame associated with abuse can make people reluctant to share their experiences or seek justice. They may feel isolated and choose not to testify or discuss the past with anyone, wanting to protect themselves from further suffering. Sufferers of SNPK suffer from social stigmatization. In addition, they often face prejudiced attitudes in society, which further discourages them from seeking the help and support they desperately need and are willing to provide. This is evidenced by both their own voices and the results of the study “Society’s attitude towards crimes of sexual violence during the Russian-Ukrainian war”, which was conducted in May 2023 under the auspices of USAID. Thus, among different demographic groups, it was observed that men of the younger age category and older women (aged 55 and older) show the highest level of prejudice against those affected by SNPK. For example, some respondents, especially young men, mistakenly consider a woman’s drinking as a clear sign of consent to sexual relations. In addition, both older women and men in this age group expressed the belief that the victims themselves may bear some degree of blame, as they may have intentionally or unintentionally provoked the crime through their behavior. But still, most people reject the idea that survivors of SNPK somehow deserved or provoked sexual violence. There is also a glimmer of hope in the fact that people usually do not perceive victims of SNPK as “themselves to blame”. Moreover, Ukrainians are ready to help directly, including learning how to communicate correctly so as not to cause harm. Read also: What to do if you have become a victim or a witness of sexual violence during the war Why are SNPK crimes usually investigated for years? Such a culture of silence and reluctance to speak out is a significant obstacle to solving the problems of the SNPK. It is already known for certain that the Russian aggressors in Ukraine committed and are committing mass sexual violence against the civilian population in the occupied territories. The SNPK requires a pre-trial hearing only with the informed consent of the affected person. At the same time, all actions stop if she says “stop”. And although law enforcement officers in certain cases understand that SNPK was committed, they do not have the right to pressure. Only the expectation of readiness to testify. I want to emphasize once again that most survivors of violence do not want to report the crimes they experienced, precisely because of stigmatization and false societal prejudices. Victims are sometimes silent for years! Currently, there are 208 registered cases of SNPK performed at TOT. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. In addition, law enforcement agencies discovered 13 cases of sexual violence against minors by the occupiers. However, unfortunately, the real number of such crimes is probably much higher. Access to information is further limited due to the fact that some affected children have gone abroad with their parents or remain in temporarily occupied territories. In addition, there are minors who were forcibly deported to the Russian Federation, and contact with them has been lost. Read also: Sexual violence is a war crime. The inevitability of punishing those guilty of SNPK is an inseparable part of Ukraine’s aspirations. Our people firmly believe in Ukraine’s ability to bring Russians guilty of SNPK to justice. This common belief resonates deeply in the hearts of Ukrainians, who perceive the problem of sexual crimes as a collective pain. The trial of those guilty of SNPK is a matter of extreme importance, which affects everyone on a personal level. It is a huge disaster that has united the nation in its quest for justice. Ukrainians understand that it takes time and perseverance to achieve this goal, but they are steadfast in their determination to achieve ambitious goals. They are unwilling to settle for anything less than comprehensive justice. It is comforting and encouraging to realize that Ukraine is not alone in its desire for justice. The tangible support received from the international community further strengthens this hope. Yes, indeed, at the moment we have only one sentence in absentia – a serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was sentenced to 12 years in prison as a direct executor of the SNPK. But international humanitarian law does not provide for any statute of limitations for these types of crimes. Therefore, the occupiers will not be able to evade responsibility for the SNPK. Russian criminals will be hunted all over the world throughout their miserable lives and will surely be tried and punished as war criminals. Iryna Didenko, head of the specialized department for the organization of the investigation of the SNPK of the Prosecutor General’s Office, especially for “UP.Zhyttia” Publications in the “View” column are not editorial articles and reflect the author’s point of view only.

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