Russia using rape as 'military strategy' in Ukraine: UN envoy - CNN

CNN  — 

Russia is utilizing rape and intersexual unit arsenic portion of its “military strategy” successful Ukraine, a UN envoy said this week.

The assertion follows information released by a sheet of UN experts precocious that verified “more than a 100 cases” of rape oregon intersexual battle incidents reported successful Ukraine since February.

“When you perceive women attest astir Russian soldiers equipped with Viagra, it’s intelligibly a subject strategy,” Pramila Patten, UN Special Representative connected Sexual Violence successful Conflict, said successful an interrogation with AFP connected Thursday.

She added that galore cases progressive children and besides said that the existent fig of victims was apt to beryllium acold higher than authoritative figures suggested due to the fact that intersexual crimes are often “under reported.”

“There are galore cases of intersexual unit against children who are raped, tortured and sequestered,” Patten said.

“I person not stopped since February to stress the value of having credible investigations into these cases of violence.”

Since the Russian invasion began, Ukrainian officials person repeatedly accused Moscow’s forces of sexually abusing women and children, claiming they are utilizing rape and different intersexual acts arsenic weapons of war.

Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kateryna Pavlichenko successful June said that constabulary received astir 50 complaints of intersexual crimes committed by Russian soldiers.

Prosecutors are besides investigating rape allegations successful the Kharkiv portion aft Ukrainian forces precocious recaptured territory there.

CNN has spoken with Ukrainian women, 1 of them a large 16-year-old, who shared harrowing accounts detailing intersexual assault.

CNN could not independently verify the latest claims by the UN.

Russian authorities person denied allegations of warfare crimes successful Ukraine.