Trauma and Sexual Violence Haunt Ukrainian POWs Returning from Russian Captivity
Two years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a disturbing pattern is emerging among the Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) returning home after being held in Russian detention.
Many are showing signs of severe psychological trauma and evidence of sexual violence during their captivity, according to a new UN report.
The report, presented to the UN Human Rights Council this week, accuses Russian authorities of “horrific treatment” of Ukrainian POWs and civilians in detention, amounting to “violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws and corresponding war crimes.”
Investigators found credible reports of torture in 11 detention facilities, seven in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine and four in Russia.
“Victims’ accounts disclose relentless, brutal treatment inflicting severe pain and suffering during prolonged detention with blatant disregard for human dignity,” said Erik Mose, chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. “This has led to long-lasting physical and mental trauma.”
The trauma is evident in the stories of POWs like Oleksii Holikov, who was subjected to electric shocks and sexual violence during over a year of captivity in a notorious prison in Russian-occupied Donetsk.
“Sexual violence is not suffered only in the body, but in the mind. It suffocates the brain,” Holikov said.
Many other former detainees are afraid to speak out due to fear of judgment and stigma.
Sexual violence has been used as a “tool to ruin the connection between people in a community and to decrease the possibility of this community resisting,” according to Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk.
The UN report documents incidents of rape and sexual assault against women, men, girls and boys in Russian-controlled areas.
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As more Ukrainian POWs and civilians return from Russian detention, the scale of sexual trauma and its long-term impacts on individuals and society are becoming apparent.
Experts warn of a “deeply rooted psychological trauma that could affect millions of people for years to come,” in addition to the physical destruction of the war.
Ukrainian authorities have been collecting evidence of sexual violence as a war crime, with 270 cases identified so far, including 173 female and 97 male survivors.
However, progress is slow due to the challenges of investigating such sensitive crimes in an active conflict zone. Survivors need long-term access to psychological support, justice and social acceptance to heal from their ordeals.
As the war grinds on with no end in sight, addressing the hidden scourge of conflict-related sexual violence must be an urgent priority.
The trauma of Ukraine’s POWs is a stark reminder of the human cost of Russia’s invasion and the long road to recovery that lies ahead.
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