Child Abuse Violations in Russian-Occupied Ukraine
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military commenced on February 24, 2022, and is a human rights nightmare. As with any war, violence was inflicted on the people of the invaded country. This war has been so catastrophic to the people of Ukraine, predominantly the civilian population, that the United Nations has found evidence of war crimes, violations of human rights, and disregard for humanitarian law committed by the Russian invaders.
Challenges in Determining Sex-Based Crimes Against Children
There are about 112 reported deaths of children attributed to the war. However, investigating whether sex-based crimes were committed against those who had perished has faced challenges since autopsy reports are focused on the immediate source of death instead of thoroughly investigating traumas sustained by the victims. More so, some victims’ remains are in a brutal state that makes it challenging to conduct post-mortem examinations, and sex crimes endured by the victims are often not determined or reported. More disturbing, at least 14 children who died cannot be identified, given the advanced decomposition and trauma sustained by their remains.
Human Rights Violations and War Crimes Against Children
The United Nations Commission has been tracking and documenting evidence of human rights violations and war crimes against children by Russian military forces invading Ukraine, especially the territories under Russian military control. These atrocious crimes include, but are not limited to, unlawful confinement, executions, torture, ill-treatment, rape, and other sexual violence. In addition to being the direct victims of war crimes, the Commission found that children are often forced to witness crimes done to their family members, which further inflict psychological trauma on these innocent victims.
Sexual Violence Against All Genders and All Ages
The United Nations Commission conducted an independent study on the four central Ukrainian regions: Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy. In their research, the United Nations Commission found evidence of rape and other sexual violence committed against all ages, including children as young as four years old, in the Ukrainian regions occupied by the Russian military movement.
Sexual Violence Against Children
Focusing on the United Nations Commission’s findings of war crimes, especially on sexual abuse and violence against children, the Commission found the following incidences:
Kyiv
In Kyiv, the United Nations Commission has recorded numerous sex crimes against civilians, at least one involving a child. The reported incident happened on March 2022, where a four-year-old girl was forced to perform oral sex on a Russian soldier after her mother was raped.
In addition, the United Nations Commission is investigating three additional credible allegations of rape against teenage girls in the same Kyiv village when the study was released.
Chernihiv
In the Chernihiv region, the United Nations Commission has reported a Russian military unit commander to have repeatedly sexually abused a 16-year-old girl.
While another incident reported involved Russian armed forces, service members attempted to rape a mother in front of her three-year-old son after they broke into their home. The actual rape was only diverted when neighbours ran into the house.
Kharkiv
In Kharkiv, the United Nations Commission is investigating a rape of an adolescent girl by a Russian armed forces soldier in a three-month period.
War has permanently been attached to heinous crimes against civilians despite international human rights laws and rules of war. Unfortunately, children, who are often the most vulnerable in society, endure most of the trauma that has lasting psychological and physical effects that haunt the next generation.
Sexual Violence Against Children
Focusing on the United Nations Commission’s findings of war crimes, especially on sexual abuse and violence against children, the Commission found the following incidences:
● Kyiv
In Kyiv, the United Nations Commission has recorded numerous sex crimes against civilians, at least one involving a child. The reported incident happened on March 2022, where a four-year-old girl was forced to perform oral sex on a Russian soldier after her mother was raped.
In addition, the United Nations Commission is investigating three additional credible allegations of rape against teenage girls in the same Kyiv village when the study was released.
● Chernihiv
In the Chernihiv region, the United Nations Commission has reported a Russian military unit commander to have repeatedly sexually abused a 16-year-old girl.
While another incident reported involved Russian armed forces, servicemen attempted to rape a mother in front of her three-year-old son after they broke into their home. The actual rape was only diverted when neighbours ran into the house.
● Kharkiv
In Kharkiv, the United Nations Commission is investigating a rape of an adolescent girl by a Russian armed forces soldier in a three-month period.
War has permanently been attached to heinous crimes against civilians despite international human rights laws and rules of war. Unfortunately, children, who are often the most vulnerable in society, endure most of the trauma that has lasting psychological and physical effects that haunt the next generation.
