Russia Calls UN Report on Sexual Violence ‘Politically Motivated’ and Baseless

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has stated that the inclusion of Russia on the “blacklist” in the UN Secretary-General’s report on conflict-related sexual violence is politically motivated and completely lacks evidentiary support.

The UN Secretariat released the report, which for the first time included Russia over allegations of involvement of Russian servicemen in instances of sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilians in Ukraine. Zakharova said no concrete evidence substantiating the allegations has been presented to the Russian side.

“We have not received any verified facts, evidence, or information that would enable a substantive discussion of such claims,” she said. According to Zakharova, Russia has routinely submitted materials to the UN Secretariat refuting the involvement of Russian servicemen in any breaches of international humanitarian law, but those arguments have been ignored.

The report also included Israel on the list for the first time. Zakharova specifically criticized the activities of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, calling her thoroughly discredited in relation to biased and entirely false fabrications.

She recalled that in 2022, Patten propagated a fake claim concocted by the Kiev regime that Russian servicemen had used medical drugs to commit sexual assaults.

Zakharova noted that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is already effectively on his way out of his office, and a new Secretary-General is expected to assume post by the end of the year. “One can only hope that he will learn from his predecessor’s mistakes. We will continue to advocate for this,” she said.