Bodies as a battlefield: sexual violence as a weapon of Russia against Ukraine

Abstract

The research “Bodies as a battlefield: sexual violence as a weapon of Russia against Ukraine” is devoted to the analysis of sexual violence as a war crime in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and to identify legal mechanisms for holding those responsible for such crimes accountable.

The work defines the legal nature of sexual violence, in particular in conditions of armed conflict, and delimits this concept on the basis of national and international law. The study confirmed that sexual violence committed during the Russian war against Ukraine is systemic and widespread, encompassing such forms as rape, torture, physical and psychological humiliation, and is used as a means of intimidation and pressure. The victims of this violence include both women and men, as well as children.

The study also assesses the role of the International Criminal Court in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes, in particular sexual violence, during the conflict. It was emphasized that national authorities are unable to effectively bring perpetrators to justice due to the scale and specificity of the crimes, therefore Ukraine's cooperation with the ICC is necessary to ensure international legal responsibility, restore justice, and protect the rights of victims.