Sexual violence amid war way to destroy Ukrainian nation - Deputy Minister of Justice

That’s according to the ministry’s press service, Ukrinform reports.

According to Kolomiets, "as for war crimes related to war-related violence, we are not talking about the satisfaction of sexual desire. We are talking about a certain powerful military practice. Now, even they use this term – ‘genocidal’ practice."

She noted that the Russian military is thus venting their anger over their failures in Ukraine as they are being forced to retreat.

"They are trying to intimidate the civilian population and demoralize people. This targets both the Ukrainian Army and all Ukrainians who remain in non-government-controlled and liberated territories. This can be considered as a way to destroy the Ukrainian nation because applying sexual violence can cause irreparable damage to the reproductive functions of those who survived such crimes," Kolomiets explained.

The deputy minister noted that several hundred such cases have been recorded and that one court verdict has already been handed down.

"It is important that we refer to people who were subjected to these crimes as survivors. Not only women can be survivors. These are also men and children. And the age of these survivors ranges from toddlers to people of respectable age, in their 70s or even 80s," Kolomiets said.

She also emphasized that general stress, desperation, and job loss also lead to an increase in cases of domestic violence. She urged everyone who faced such crimes to reach out to lawyers as part of the Free Legal Aid system.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Valeria Kolomiets previously said the Register of damages caused to Ukraine by Russian aggression would also include statements from victims of sexual violence committed by the Russian military.