“They Wanted to Break Me”: Testimonies of Systematic Sexual Violence Against Ukrainian Prisoners

New testimonies from Ukrainian prisoners of war who returned from Russia reveal an organized system of torture and sexual violence in detention facilities. UN data and a Wall Street Journal investigation indicate that the abuses are not isolated incidents but a psychological weapon systematically used against detainees.

New testimonies from Ukrainian prisoners of war who returned from Russia reveal an organized system of torture and sexual violence in detention facilities. Serhiy Boychuk, captured in 2022, said his captors raped him with bottles and sticks and pressed a knife to his genitals. He was released in October 2024 as part of a prisoner exchange. According to the UN, evidence has been collected in about 310 cases of sexual violence attributed to Russian forces, including 280 men, 26 women, and four girls. The testimonies indicate a recurring pattern of abuse in nine detention facilities in Russia, including rape, gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks, and the use of construction foam. David Schwendiman, a former US prosecutor, said the repetition of the same methods indicates command responsibility. Ukrainian civilians in occupied territories also reported severe abuses, including rape at gunpoint and torture with field telephones. Russia has denied access to UN investigators and rejected the allegations.