Russian Soldier Charged with Raping 15-Year-Old Girl in Kherson Region

Case of 15-Year-Old's Rape Reaches Court

According to Главком: A Russian soldier from the 126th Brigade has been formally charged with the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Ukraine's occupied Kherson region. According to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, the crime occurred on January 3, 2023, when the accused and another soldier stopped the girl and threatened her with a weapon. This case is part of a broader pattern of alleged war crimes committed during Russia's full-scale invasion, which has seen widespread international condemnation.

Prosecutors state the girl was taken to a private house where the serviceman, identified as a member of Russian military unit 12676, raped her at gunpoint. His identity has been confirmed, and he is currently evading capture. The case is being prosecuted under Ukrainian laws concerning violations of the laws and customs of war, which carries a potential sentence of up to 12 years imprisonment.

Related War Crime Prosecutions

In a separate case, Russian officer Artyom Skvortsov has been implicated in the murder of a Ukrainian prisoner of war in the Sumy region during its temporary occupation in 2022. The victim, soldier Volodymyr Lysenko, was killed after he had laid down his arms and surrendered. Skvortsov's actions have been classified as a violation of the laws and customs of war combined with the intentional killing of a prisoner.

These incidents highlight grave violations occurring within the conflict and underscore the urgent need for accountability. Such crimes, including rape and the murder of prisoners, constitute breaches of both national law and international humanitarian law. They emphasize the critical importance of international monitoring of investigations and the protection of civilians and human rights during armed conflict.