Ukrainian women raped before being killed

Postmortem tests on remains in mass graves north of Kyiv by forensic physicians have shown evidence that some women were raped before being slain by Russian soldiers.

“We already have a few cases that suggest that these women were raped before being shot to death,” said Vladyslav Perovskyi, a Ukrainian forensic doctor who, along with a team of coroners, has performed dozens of autopsies on Bucha, Irpin, and Borodianka residents who died during Russia’s month-long occupation of the area.

“We can’t disclose further specifics because my colleagues are still gathering data and we have hundreds of bodies to analyse,” he explained.

He stated that the remains of several of the ladies they had examined showed symptoms of being murdered by automatic gunfire, with up to six bullet wounds in their backs.

According to Oleh Tkalenko, a senior prosecutor for the Kyiv area, data of suspected rapes have been given to his office, which is investigating conditions such as location and victim ages.

Tkalenko stated, “Rape cases are a highly delicate and sensitive topic.” “Forensic physicians have the unique responsibility of inspecting female victims’ genitalia for symptoms of rape.”

According to a foreign coroner working north of Kyiv who requested anonymity, some remains “are in such poor form that it is difficult to uncover traces of rapes and sexual assaults.” However, we are gathering evidence in a few cases of women who we suspect were raped before being murdered.”

Following the evacuation of Russian forces from towns and suburbs surrounding the capital, hundreds of women have notified authorities, the media, and human rights organisations about alleged crimes committed by Russian soldiers. Investigators have heard testimony of gang rapes, attacks at gunpoint, and rapes in front of children.

Lyudmila Denisova, Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, has formally recorded the instances of 25 women who were imprisoned in a cellar and systematically raped in Bucha, a village north of Kyiv that has become synonymous with Russian war crimes. Authorities have warned that those incidents might be the tip of the iceberg, and Russian forces have been accused of using rape as a weapon of war.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, alleged in a statement last week that Russian forces had raped hundreds of women. Ukrainian officials have refused to provide specific data or information on where the rapes took place or the ages of the victims.

Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Russia has repeatedly denied attacking civilians during the war.

Tkalenko stated that women were hesitant to make police reports regarding sexual assaults because they feared the offenders would not be apprehended. Instead, they sought assistance from psychiatrists and physicians.

Tkalenko explained, “Psychologists deal with rape victims and then with investigators.” “Women are more guarded, and rape case information is more restricted.”

Much of the material gathered by Ukrainian prosecutors will be sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has opened an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

On the 1st of April, a volunteer who went into freed districts north of Kyiv to help evacuate inhabitants reported seeing three nude women emerge from houses and basements.

According to them, one of them had been severely battered and was carried away by ambulance. According to the volunteer, they also saw roughly ten other women provide police testimonies about being raped.

“What frequently occurs is that rape victims want to tell their experience at first, but then they disappear, and it isn’t until months later that they return to talk,” the individual explained.

When prosecutors learn about rape cases, Tkalenko says they approach victims individually to see if they will file a statement. “People are embarrassed to talk about rape,” he explained.

Also Read

Russia on arms supplies to Ukraine

KYIV: Ahead of a Tuesday summit between the US and allies on...