The United Nations has raised alarming concerns about the underreporting of sexual violence against men in Russian detention centers. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that many cases of sexual violence involving Ukrainian men are not being reported due to the stigma and perceived emasculation associated with such crimes.
According to the official statistics from Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, 114 men have been recorded as victims of sexual violence since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. However, the UNFPA believes this number is likely an understatement, as for every reported case, there may be 10 to 20 more that go unreported.
The issue of sexual violence against men in detention centers was highlighted in a report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, which was set up by the UN Human Rights Council. This commission revealed that Russian authorities have systematically used sexual violence as a method of torture, often targeting men in detention.
While the vast majority of sexual violence victims are women and girls, this form of violence is also prevalent among men, boys, and individuals with diverse gender identities. The UNFPA has emphasized that all survivors of conflict-related sexual violence face considerable barriers when seeking support. For men, these obstacles are intensified by concerns about societal perceptions, with many survivors fearing being misunderstood or labeled as belonging to sexual minorities.
Mental health professionals working with survivors in Ukraine, through a UNFPA-supported center, have reported that many male victims of sexual violence are overwhelmed with shame. These victims, particularly those who have been filmed or photographed during torture, face additional difficulties in seeking help due to the widespread sharing of such videos and images.
The UNFPA also pointed out that Russian forces have been known to send videos of Ukrainian male detainees being raped to their families, using the footage either for blackmail or to further humiliate the victims.
As the war continues, sexual violence remains a prevalent weapon of war, not only in Ukraine but also in other regions of conflict. In Sudan, for example, sexual violence has been reported extensively in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Similarly, there have been disturbing reports of sexual violence against male Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
These patterns of sexual violence underscore the urgent need for greater attention to this form of abuse, which continues to affect vulnerable populations in conflict zones around the world.
