More men than women applied for compensation after experiencing sexual violence during the war

According to Kateryna Levchenko, the government’s gender policy commissioner, data from the interim reparations project shows that male victims have outnumbered female victims.

Russian torture chamber, an illustrative photo

The official said this fact “breaks the mold” that conflict-related sexual violence only affects women. While she did not provide an exact figure for those who have applied for compensation, the government reported in early August 2024 that there were at least 270 such cases.

Levchenko also suggested that after the crimes committed in Ukraine, Russia should be blacklisted by the UN for its use of sexual violence in conflict.

“There’s a blacklist for countries that can’t do peacekeeping missions,” she elaborated. “Russia is on these missions, but it should be blacklisted. We need to advocate for this, both internationally and domestically.”

Levchenko also spoke about the draft law “On the status of persons who have suffered from sexual violence related to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and urgent interim reparations.” The official urged its speedy adoption and welcomed the fact that the parliamentary committee had recommended that MPs adopt the document on the previous day.

Ukrainian law enforcement has repeatedly accused Russia of using sexual violence as a weapon of war, a view shared by the UN.