Another side of the war in Ukraine: sexual crimes committed by Russian troops against women and girls

The human rights commissioner of the Ukrainian parliament this week warned that about 25 women between the ages of 14 and 24 had been “repeatedly raped in the basement of a house in Pucha.” But what happened in this city, known worldwide after the passage of Russian troops, is not unique. Lyudmila Denisova tells the BBC that reports of violations continue. And many of them are shocked.

The BBC This week she shared the testimony of Ana (not her real name), a 50-year-old Ukrainian woman living in a quiet village 70 kilometers from Kiev, whose life changed on March 7, the 11th day of the invasion. , From Ukraine, came Russian troops.

A young man, who describes himself as a slender, Russian-friendly Chechen militant, entered his home and pointed a gun. He ordered Ana to go to a nearby house and undress, threatening to kill her if she did not. Later, he raped her. Contrary to fate, it was saved by four Russian soldiers.

When she returned home, her husband was shot in the stomach. Due to the continuous attacks, Ana and the neighbors were unable to take him to the hospital. He died two days later. The BBC reports that Ana did not stop crying as she recalled what happened.

But what happened to Ana is not a separate case. This was stated by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Ukrainian Parliament Lyudmila Denisova to the BBC. There are reports of many irregularities. “During the Russian occupation, about 25 women between the ages of 14 and 24 were repeatedly raped in the basement of a house in Pucha. Nine of them are pregnant.he said.

“Russian soldiers said they would rape them to the extent that they did not want to have sex.” “Preventing them from having Ukrainian children,” says Denisova.

Many complaints come through helplines or other means such as the telegram network. “A 25-year-old woman called her 16-year-old sister to say she had been raped in the street in front of her, and Russian soldiers said: ‘This will happen to all Nazi prostitutes.'”The Ukrainian commissioner shared with the BBC.

Asked if she could get an idea of ​​the scale of these violations, Lyudmila Denisova said, “It is not possible because not all victims have the courage to say what they did.”

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