humanitarianJul 26, 2026

How Russia Uses Sexual Violence to Wage War

Summary

KHARKIV, Ukraine—Before he left for the front line in 2022, Serhii Boychuk told his wife that if captured, he didn’t want to be taken alive. A few months later, the Russians took him prisoner. Guards beat and tortured him sexually for more than two years, he said. He recounted being raped with …

Source: Alistair MacDonald, Serhii Bosak and Ievgeniia Sivorka | Photography by Sasha Maslov for WSJ — Read the full report

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Sources

Alistair MacDonald, Serhii Bosak and Ievgeniia Sivorka | Photography by Sasha Maslov for WSJBy Alistair MacDonald, Serhii Bosak and Ievgeniia Sivorka | Photography by Sasha Maslov for WSJ
KHARKIV, Ukraine—Before he left for the front line in 2022, Serhii Boychuk told his wife that if captured, he didn’t want to be taken alive. A few months later, the Russians took him prisoner. Guards beat and tortured him sexually for more than two years, he said. He recounted be…

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