Sexual violence

The towns and villages of the Okhtyrka district in the Sumy region were under occupation for over a month, from February 24 to April 6, 2022. During that time, Russian troops stationed military equipment in private property, looted residents’ homes and took civilians captive. © Alexey Furman/Getty Images

Russian Soldier Sentenced for Sexual Assault and Robbery

Perpetrator identified by survivor after he failed to log out of Google account on her stolen phone.

18 Sep 25

Maksym Lianchenko, a native of Donetsk, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for rape committed during the occupation of the Kharkiv region in April 2022. © Security Service of Ukraine (SSU)

Militant Sentenced for Kharkiv Rape

Prosecutor pays tribute to survivor’s courage and participation in the legal process.

26 Aug 25

Oleksandr, a 22-year-old Ukrainian soldier suffering from severe mental trauma and other injuries, sits on his bed at a psychiatric hospital on October 05, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. © Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Ukraine: “I Just Wanted Them to Shoot Me”

Male survivors of conflict-related sexual violence often struggle to access legal redress and psychological help.

11 Aug 25

A woman picks up ornaments as she walks through her home that was destroyed during battles at the start of Russia's full scale invasion, in Yahidne village on October 30, 2022 in Chernihiv, Ukraine. © Ed Ram/Getty Images

Ukrainian Court to Hear Yahidne Rape Case

Three Russian soldiers will be tried in absentia and behind closed doors.

27 Mar 25

Danislan Kuramayev, a 22-year-old Russian soldier, faces a trial in absentia on charges of raping a woman in July 2022 during the occupation of the Borova community in the Kharkiv region.

Russian Soldier Faces in Absentia Trial for Rape

Survivor of assault was forced to find refuge by hiding in a minefield.

12 Mar 25

Photo from the January 21, 2025 hearing. © Valeria Yehoshyna

Trial of Russian Who Told Husband to “Rape Ukrainian Women” Proceeds

Sole witness in case gives evidence to Kyiv’s Shevchenko district court.

10 Mar 25

Sexual violence was one of the tools used by the Russian military to intimidate civilians living in occupied Ukrainian territories. © Carl Court/Getty Images

Ukraine: Investigating Wartime Sexual Violence

Women prosecutors describe steep learning curve to deal with “sheer scale” of atrocities.

4 Mar 25

Items are seen inside a cell at a temporary detention centre which is believed to have been used by Russian forces to jail and torture civilians on November 16, 2022 in Kherson, Ukraine, © Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Russian Soldier Accused of Sexual Assault of Kherson Man

Civilian was among residents held and tortured during the first weeks of the occupation.

20 Feb 25

Up to 10 million applications are expected to be submitted to the International Register of Damages. © Paula Bronstein /Getty Images

Ukraine: Compensating Survivors of War Crimes

Up to 10 million applications are expected to be submitted to the International Register of Damages.

24 Jan 25

Defilement – the crime of sexually abusing a child – is an all-too frequent occurrence in Ugandan schools, perpetrated by teachers or other authority figures. © Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images

The Sexual Assault Crisis Plaguing Ugandan Schools

Why do crimes committed by teachers so often go unpunished?

29 Nov 24

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