When Violence Targets Who You Are: LGBTQI+ Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Occupied Ukraine

Years after the events described here, some continue to cope with trauma, fear, and the lasting consequences of what they experienced during occupation.

Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) includes rape, threats of rape, sexual torture, forced nudity, sexual humiliation, and other forms of sexual violence committed in situations of armed conflict, occupation, or detention. As emphasized in the UN Secretary General’s Annual Report on CRSV, in 2025 “LGBTQ+ persons were at acute risk of sexual violence, in particular in detention settings.”

“Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are not a homogenous group. Their experiences, needs and circumstances differ, requiring survivor-centred approaches that respond to each individual with dignity and care. The diverse manifestations of sexual violence demand tailored responses, while survivor networks continue to play a vital role in advocating for the rights and needs of those affected,” said António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, in his 2025 Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.

The stories in this article illustrate how CRSV can intersect with discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), creating additional barriers to safety, recovery and justice. Together with the Ukrainian human rights organization Projector, the United Nations is sharing documented testimonies from survivors in territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect survivors' privacy and safety.

While CRSV remains significantly underreported worldwide, the United Nations has documented cases affecting women, men, girls, boys and people of diverse genders in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including in detention settings and areas under occupation.

“What we see in these testimonies is not a series of isolated incidents. Across different survivors and periods of occupation, similar patterns emerge: unlawful detention, torture, sexual violence, humiliation, and attempts to break people through fear. These stories remind us that conflict-related sexual violence can be used not only against individuals, but also to intimidate communities and assert control over civilian populations,” said Vitalii Matvieiev, Head of Projector.

Human rights organizations and UN monitoring mechanisms have documented that LGBTQI+ persons may face heightened risks during armed conflict and occupation. The experiences of Olena and Andrii show how CRSV can intersect with discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), creating additional barriers to safety, recovery, justice and support.

“I’ll show you that men are much better.”

Two months before the liberation of Kherson, Olena (name changed), a young lesbian woman, was detained by Russian soldiers while working as a shop assistant. During a search of her home, soldiers found a Ukrainian flag and an LGBTQ+ rainbow flag. After learning that she was a lesbian, they dragged her away, detained her and demanded information about other LGBTQ+ people in the city.

When Olena refused to cooperate, she was beaten and subjected to threats of sexual violence. According to her testimony, one soldier told her, “I’ll show you that men are much better,” while she was restrained and unable to move. She was later pressured repeatedly to provide information about LGBTQ+ people in occupied Kherson.

The abuse continued during subsequent detentions. Olena was forced to witness acts of humiliation against other detainees and survived what she described as a mass execution in which most detainees were killed. To this day, she has not reported the crimes to law enforcement authorities.

“If we meet again, I’ll rape you.”

In May 2022, Andrii (name changed), a member of the LGBTQI+ community living in occupied Kherson, was stopped by three Russian servicemen while returning home from work. What began as routine questioning quickly escalated into sexualized violence.

According to his testimony, one soldier forcibly touched him under his clothing without consent and threatened him with rape, saying: “If we meet again, I’ll rape you.”

Although the encounter lasted only minutes, its impact endured. As a civilian living under occupation, Andrii had no realistic way to resist or seek protection, highlighting the fear and vulnerability many LGBTQI+ people faced in occupied territories.

When Violence and Discrimination Intersect

The experiences of Olena and Andrii illustrate how conflict-related sexual violence may intersect with discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons. Beyond violence and coercion associated with occupation, survivors may also face acts and threats linked to their actual or perceived sexual orientation, deepening trauma and reinforcing stigma.

For many survivors, the consequences extend far beyond the violations themselves. Physical injuries, psychological trauma, fear, and social stigma can persist for years, while concerns about retaliation, disclosure, or reliving traumatic experiences may prevent survivors from seeking support or pursuing justice.

Putting Survivors at the Centre

“Recovery looks different for every survivor. Some people are ready to speak, while others need time. Our role is not to pressure survivors, but to create conditions where they feel safe, heard, and supported. Access to psychological care, medical services, legal assistance, and social support can be just as important as the pursuit of justice itself,” said Vitalii Matvieiev, Head of Projector.

CRSV remains one of the most devastating and underreported consequences of armed conflict, often leaving long-lasting physical, psychological, social, and economic impacts on survivors, their families, and communities. Addressing these crimes requires more than accountability alone. Survivors need access to comprehensive support services, including healthcare, psychosocial assistance, legal aid, and protection. At the same time, strengthening the capacity of institutions and professionals to identify, document, investigate, and respond to CRSV is essential to ensuring that survivors are treated with dignity and that their rights are upheld. Making sure this is true for all survivors does not happen without intentional and consistent efforts on all sides. 

“Several residents of a shelter for LGBTQI+ internally displaced people told us they had survived conflict-related sexual violence under occupation but did not report the crimes. They feared that speaking out would expose them to further violence, discrimination and stigma. No survivor should have to choose between seeking justice and protecting their own safety. We must ensure that services are safe, inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics,” said Analee Pepper, Senior Women’s Protection Advisor on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.

As Ukraine continues to pursue justice and recovery, survivor-centred approaches must remain at the heart of these efforts. Survivors of CRSV are not a homogenous group, and their experiences, risks and recovery needs can differ significantly. In Ukraine, response and prevention efforts have increasingly adapted to the realities faced by different groups of survivors, including men who have experienced CRSV in detention. The same principle must apply to LGBTQI+ survivors, who may face additional barriers to reporting violations, accessing services and seeking justice due to stigma, discrimination or fear of further harm.

At a time when the rights of LGBTQI+ people are being challenged in many parts of the world, it is essential to reaffirm that international human rights standards guarantee equal protection and access to justice for all survivors. Ensuring that survivor-centred approaches truly centre all survivors requires dedicated effort, sustained investment and strong national ownership. Building systems that are inclusive, accessible and responsive to diverse needs is not only critical for recovery and accountability in Ukraine, but also for ensuring that no survivor of conflict-related sexual violence is left behind.

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Vitalii Matvieiev is a Ukrainian attorney, media lawyer and co-founder and CEO of Projector  --a Ukrainian civil society organization that brings together lawyers, human rights defenders and media professionals to support access to justice, document human rights violations and advocate for survivors' rights. Projector is dedicated to protecting the rights of vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, and advocating for democratic legal reforms. In addition to his role in Projector, Vitalii is a Representative to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on matters related to the investigation and prosecution of gender-based crimes.

Analee Pepper is the Senior Women’s Protection Advisor to the UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine – a role mandated under UN Security Council Resolution 2467 (2019) in order to advise UN senior leadership on the implementaiton of the operational provisions of UN security council resolutions related to conflict-related sexual violence. In this capacity, Analee leads and coordinates the UN joint portfolio on CRSV prevention and response in Ukraine and liaises closely with the Office of the Special Representative to the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.