Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 363 criminal cases have been opened for sexual violence by Russian soldiers. The youngest victim was only four years old.
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said this on May 13, answering questions from people's deputies from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada, a correspondent for Suspilny reports.
“The youngest age of a victim of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) committed by Russian soldiers is four years old. This information comes not only from the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, not only from the Ombudsman of Ukraine, but also this information is officially recorded by international partners. For example, by the UN Permanent Monitoring Mission, which is constantly working in Ukraine,” the official said.
According to the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, victims of sexual violence include children, women, and men.
“363 criminal proceedings have been opened. There is no statute of limitations, investigations are underway, and we are also recording similar crimes that are constantly being committed in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine by Russian soldiers,” Lubinets added.
On May 8, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, more than 17,400 civilians have been killed and more than 43,000 people have been injured as a result of Russian strikes.