Russian troopers’ wives encourage them to rape ladies: Ukraine’s First Lady

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska has accused Russian troopers of utilizing rape as an “instrument” within the ongoing conflict between the 2 nations. 

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 30, 2022 17:34 IST

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska. (Image: Reuters)

By India Today Web Desk: Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Lady, spoke about sexual violence being perpetrated by Russian troopers as conflict between two nations crossed the nine-month mark. Olena Zelenska alleged that the wives of Russian servicemen encourage them to rape Ukrainian ladies, as per a report by Sky News.

At a world convention to deal with sexual violence throughout conflicts, Olena Zelenska mentioned, “Sexual violence is the cruelest, most animalistic way to prove mastery over someone. And for victims of this kind of violence, it is difficult to testify in wartime because nobody feels safe.”

Olena Zelenska, who is married to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claimed that rape has become an “instrument” that is being used systematically by Russian soldiers in the ongoing war between the two nations.

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“This is one other instrument that they (Russian forces) are utilizing as their weaponry. This is one other weapon of their arsenal on this conflict and battle. That’s why they’re utilizing this systematically and overtly,” she said, adding, “We see that the Russian servicemen are very open about this: they discuss it over the telephone with their relations, from telephone conversations we have managed to seize.”

Zelenska alleged, “In reality, the wives of Russian servicemen encourage this, they are saying, ‘Go on, rape these Ukrainian ladies, simply do not share this with me, simply do not inform me’.

She referred to as for rapes of Ukrainian ladies to be recognised as “war crimes” in order that perpetrators are held accountable.

Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly attacked Russian troopers, accusing them of raping ladies because the battle started in February this yr. In April, Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenk had alleged that Russian troopers had raped women as younger as 10 years outdated and branded ladies’s our bodies.

Horror tales of Ukrainian ladies and women being threatened with rape and gangrape have been extensively coated by the media, with a couple of survivors coming ahead to relate their ordeal.

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Published On:

Nov 30, 2022