A new report from the United Nations has uncovered a disturbing pattern of systematic sexual violence against women by Russian troops in regions occupied during the 19-month-long Russian invasion of Ukraine. The report, released by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, sheds light on grave war crimes committed against women.

The report reveals that in the Kherson region, Russian soldiers subjected women ranging in age from 19 to 83 years to rape and sexual violence, often accompanied by threats and other violations. Shockingly, family members were frequently kept in adjacent rooms, forced to hear the horrifying violations taking place.

Reports of sexual violence committed by Russian troops have increased in recent times, with some incidents involving brutal acts against civilians. One woman, who Russian soldiers raped after they killed her husband, recounted how they threatened her 4-year-old son with violence during the attack.

International investigations into these atrocities have been prompted by mounting evidence, sparking major protests in countries such as England and Poland. Reports suggest that sexual violence is used as a deliberate tactic by Russian forces to dehumanize victims, irrespective of their gender.

The use of rape as a weapon of war is a grave violation of international law, classified as a war crime and a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Such acts are often intended to terrorize populations, disrupt families, destroy communities, and even alter the ethnic composition of future generations.

While international law provides protection against sexual violence during wartime, its enforcement remains weak. The International Criminal Court has initiated an investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine, but legal action may be years away if it occurs at all.