On June 19, the international community observes the International Day for the Elimination of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence—a day intended to draw attention to the global responsibility of states to uphold human rights, comply with international humanitarian law, and ensure respect for human dignity and fundamental freedoms.

Now in its fifth year of the Russian Federation’s full-scale military aggression against Ukraine, conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is one of the most horrific crimes against humanity, systematically used by the Russian Federation’s invading forces and its occupation administrations as a method of waging war, an instrument of terror, intimidation, the destruction of human faith and dignity, and the instillation of fear.

Ukraine is working closely with international monitoring mechanisms, namely the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Violations in Ukraine, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, who have gathered extensive evidence of these crimes and confirmed their systematic nature.

To date, hundreds of cases of sexual and gender-based violence have been confirmed, particularly against women, men, and minors—both girls and boys—including such horrific crimes as rape, mutilation or violence against the genitalia, forced nudity, threats and attempted rape, and being forced to witness the sexual abuse of loved ones, among others.

The youngest victim of the crimes committed by Russian military personnel was four years old. The oldest victim was 83 years old.

Ukraine also draws attention to the UN Secretary-General’s report on sexual violence in conflict, which was published on May 29, 2026. A key element of this document was the first-ever inclusion of the armed forces and security agencies of the Russian Federation on the so-called “list of shame.” We insist that this should serve as grounds for barring the offending country from participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls on the international community, UN member states, international governmental and non-governmental human rights and humanitarian organizations and mechanisms to intensify political, diplomatic, and sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation to put an end to its criminal state policy of using sexual violence as a tool of war and to hold all perpetrators accountable under international law.

Ensuring the rights and safety of victims of sexual violence, as well as their access to justice and professional assistance, will remain Ukraine’s top priorities in cooperation with international partners.