UN documents 1,004 sexual violence cases in Ukraine since 2022 invasion

September 18, 2026 at 08:03 PM2 min

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The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has documented 1,004 cases of conflict-related sexual violence since Russia's full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. The figure, covering the period through late July 2026, represents only a fraction of the actual total, mission head Danielle Bell said at a press conference in Geneva on September 18. The report attributes 89 percent of documented cases to Russian forces and 11 percent to Ukrainian forces.

Key Facts

The UN documented 1,004 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and late July 2026.
Russian forces were attributed 89 percent of documented cases, including military personnel, prison staff, and security services.
Ukrainian forces were attributed 11 percent of documented cases.
The youngest victim was a four-year-old girl and the oldest an 82-year-old woman; both rapes were committed by Russians.
UN monitors interviewed only about 10 percent of people released by both sides and had no access to Russian-occupied territories.

Report Methodology

The report is based on confidential interviews with hundreds of victims, court documents, and official registries. Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, presented the findings at a press conference in Geneva on September 18. She said the documented total of 1,004 cases is only a part of the reality. UN monitors were able to interview only about 10 percent of people released by both sides of the war. The mission had no access to Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Victim Profile

Most victims were men, particularly in penitentiary institutions. Women and children were also victims, predominantly in Russian-occupied territories. The youngest victim was a four-year-old girl and the oldest an 82-year-old woman. Both rapes were committed by Russians, according to the UN report.

UN Response

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he was deeply alarmed by the frequency of these abhorrent acts. He expressed concern that such crimes would continue amid the ongoing violence in Ukraine. Documented crimes include rape, genital mutilation, electric shock torture, and other degrading acts of a sexual nature.