The United Nations has urged further reporting of the alleged symmetrical raping of women in Bucha, Ukraine, by Russian soldiers for roughly a month before withdrawing from the region.
International authorities called for investigations to look into the reports of rape and sexual violence against Ukrainian women and children. The executive director of UN Women, a United Nations entity dedicated to advancing gender equity and the empowerment of women, Sima Bahous, called for a "gender-sensitive" humanitarian response regarding the controversy.
Rape and Sexual Abuse in Bucha
Bahous said that the combination of mass displacement due to the large presence of conscripts and mercenaries and the brutality displayed against civilians in Ukraine raised red flags. She noted that the allegations of rape and sexual violence must be independently investigated to ensure justice and responsibility.
The UN official added that there is now an increased risk of human trafficking at border crossings as young women and unaccompanied teenagers are at particular risk. Several reports of sexual violence and other war crimes committed by Russian soldiers have been coming out from areas that Ukrainian forces have retaken control of, as per CNN.
Ukraine's official ombudsman for human rights, Lyudmyla Denisova, said that nine of the victims are now pregnant due to the sexual assaults. She said that she had recorded multiple cases of rape, torture, and abuse by Kremlin forces in various Ukrainian cities and towns.
Evidence of brutality has surfaced after Moscow opted to withdraw its military troops from northern Ukraine. Satellite images and video footage showed dead bodies lying in the streets left by Russian soldiers.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, last week, Russia became the second-ever country to be suspended from the United Nations Human Rights Council. The decision was made after the satellite images of Bucha were revealed to the world, showing victims having their hands bound, afflicted with gunshot wounds, and signs of torture.
Aftermath of the Brutality
Denisova said that unverified claims claim about 25 girls and women between the ages of 14 to 24 were "systematically" raped in Bucha. She said that Russian troops allegedly threatened the victims with rape "to the point where they wouldn't want sexual contact with any man" to prevent them from having Ukrainian children.
The situation comes as Ukraine's UN ambassador told members of the UN Security Council that Russia has abducted more than 120,000 Ukrainian children from his country. The council convened to hear about the impacts of the Russian war against Ukraine on women and children within the nation.
The Permanent Representative of Ukraine, Sergiy Kyslytsya, told council members that many of the children who were abducted by Russian troops were orphans. The official added that the actions were a clear and flagrant violation of international law and conventions. Furthermore, he said that Russia was drafting a bill that would "simplify and accelerate the procedures for the adoption of abducted Ukrainian children.
Kyslytsya said that Russia's decision to withdraw troops from Bucha and other areas has revealed a trail of "unimaginable suffering, with killings, unspeakable torture, and sexual violence including rape and mutilation," Fox News reported.
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