UN: Rape part of Russia’s military strategy

Acts of sexual violence committed by Russian forces in Ukraine are part of Russia’s “military strategy.”

That’s according to Pramila Patten, Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ukrinform reports citing Forbes.

Patten confirmed that rape is part of Russia’s “military strategy” and a “deliberate tactic to dehumanize the victims.” She emphasized that “when women are held for days and raped, when you start to rape little boys and men, when you see a series of genital mutilations, when you hear women testify about Russian soldiers equipped with Viagra, it's clearly a military strategy.”

According to Patten, the United Nations managed to verify more than a hundred cases of rape or sexual assault in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. The data obtained to date suggests that the age of the victims of sexual violence ranges from four to 82 years old. The victims are mostly women and girls, but also men and boys.

In her address, Patten stressed the need for justice and accountability. She added that “There is now political will to fight impunity, and there is consensus today on the fact that rapes are used as a military tactic, a terror tactic.”