Hundreds of civilians, POWs suffer sexual abuse in Ukraine war: UN

Hundreds of civilians and prisoners have been subjected to sexual violence and torture -- overwhelmingly by Moscow's forces -- since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the UN reported on Friday (September 18, 2026).

The UN Human Rights Office attributed 89% of the documented cases to "Russian authorities -- including members of the armed forces, the prison service and the national security service".

It blamed the remaining 11% on "Ukrainian authorities", saying both countries should investigate promptly and bring perpetrators to justice.

"Some 1,004 cases of sexual violence were documented from February 24, 2022, when Russia's attack on Ukraine began, through to the end of July this year," the UN agency said in a report.

"Sexual violence has been used against civilians and prisoners of war [POWs] in Ukraine in a shocking pattern of torture, intimidation and coercion," it said.