Sexual violence in conflict is systematically underreported – especially when the victims are men. This panel discussion brings to light one of the least visible dimensions of Russia’s war against Ukraine: the deliberate use of sexual violence against male detainees as a weapon of war.

Based on testimonies from 212 Ukrainian men held across five oblasts who have been subjected to sexual violence during their detention, International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and Truth Hounds present the report Truth Beneath Silence: Russia’s Weaponisation of Sexual Violence Against Men in Ukraine.

The study showcases evidence of a large network of detention facilities that Russian forces established on occupied Ukrainian territories to administer torture and sexual 
violence against men in Ukraine.

The authors show how Russian forces use this tactic on an unprecedented scale against Ukrainian men, aiming to break the civilian population and eliminate resistance.
The event brings together survivors, legal experts, civil society representatives, and government stakeholders to discuss the report’s key findings and explore concrete pathways to justice and accountability.