Russian troops are using rape as a weapon of war against Ukrainians, according to damning evidence collected by the UN.
Pramila Patten, a UN special envoy on sexual violence, said she has verified more than 100 cases of rape against Ukrainians during the eight-month war but the true figure is almost certain to be higher.
Patten said survivors have told her of genital mutilations and of soldiers ‘equipped with Viagra’ in what appears to be a ‘military strategy’ to dehumanise people.
‘And when the victims report what was said during the rapes, it is clearly a deliberate tactic to dehumanise the victims.’
The United Nations has verified ‘more than a hundred cases’ of rape or sexual assaults in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February, Patten said, referring to a UN report released in late September.
She added that ‘reported cases are only the tip of the iceberg’.
‘It’s very difficult to have reliable statistics during an active conflict, and the numbers will never reflect reality, because sexual violence is a silent crime’ that is largely underreported, she said
