UN adds Russian army to blacklist for sexual violence during war in Ukraine

In its annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, the United Nations has for the first time added Russian and Israeli forces to its blacklist.

According to Ukrinform, Associated Press stated this in an article.

The 35-page report, published late Thursday by Israel's mission to the UN, includes 77 governmental and non-governmental organizations from twelve countries suspected of committing or being responsible for sexual violence in conflicts around the world. The report states that the number of such incidents rose sharply in 2025 compared to 2024.

Israeli forces were added to the blacklist for the first time over the treatment of detained Palestinians. Israel rejects the allegations.

"Russian armed and security forces were also blacklisted for the first time this year for sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilians detained during the war in Ukraine," the report states.

The report notes that Russian authorities have consistently denied access to UN human rights investigators. However, investigators were still able to verify 310 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories involving prisoners of war and civilians. The overwhelming majority of victims were men.

In addition, human rights organizations in Ukraine documented 31 cases of conflict-related sexual violence involving prisoners of war and civilians, most of which occurred before 2025.

Last year, António Guterres warned both Russia and Israel that they could be added to the blacklist.

Ambassadors from both countries expressed outrage over their inclusion and criticized Guterres.

As Ukrinform previously reported, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, stated that the youngest victim of conflict-related sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers was four years old. According to him, victims include children, women, and men.