Russia-Ukraine war: UN details sexual torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war
At least 155 Ukrainian prisoners of war and retained medical personnel endured electric shocks to their genitals, often using a Soviet-era military field telephone known as a “tapik”, according to a new United Nations report documenting sexual violence during Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine. The report by the UN Human Rights Office documents 1,004 cases […]
A new United Nations report has revealed the sexual torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and medical personnel during Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine. The report documents 1,004 cases of conflict-related sexual violence between February 24, 2022, and July 31, 2026, involving both civilians and prisoners of war. Ninety-nine percent of the cases were attributed to Russian authorities, including military personnel, prison officials, and security service members.
The remaining cases were attributed to Ukrainian authorities. Electric shocks to the genitals, using a Soviet-era military field telephone called a "tapik," emerged as a common form of sexual violence against Ukrainian prisoners of war and retained medical personnel. One hundred fifty-five individuals, representing 27 percent of the affected group, endured this abusive practice at least once.
Other forms of sexual violence documented include rape, attempted rape, genital mutilation, beatings, forced nudity, sexual assault, and threats of sexual violence. Survivors described severe abuse, with one Ukrainian POW reporting rape with a baton and another forced penetration with cell-door keys. Women and children in occupied Ukrainian territory also suffered sexual violence, with cases ranging from a woman repeatedly raped over a month in Zaporizhzhia to an 82-year-old woman raped by a Russian soldier.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed deep alarm at the prevalence of these acts and called for prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
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