Ukrainian and Russian troops are fighting street-by-street for control of the key industrial city of Sievierodonetsk, even as the UN warns the war is creating a 'human trafficking crisis'.
Ms Patten said Ukraine's prosecutor general informed her during a visit in May that a national hotline reported the following forms of conflict-related sexual violence between February 24, when Russian troops invaded the country, and April 12: "rape, gang rape, pregnancy following rape, attempted rape, threats of rape, coercion to watch an act of sexual violence committed against a partner or a child, and forced nudity.
Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, categorically rejected and condemned all allegations of sexual violence by Russian troops as "lies". He claimed the same rules don't apply to Ukraine's "nationalist battalions" and said the international community will soon have "the full truth about these crimes, including crimes of a sexual nature, committed by Ukrainian nationalist units and the Ukrainian armed forces.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield cited "a mountain of credible reports of atrocities committed by Russia's forces against civilians," including "horrific accounts of sexual violence".
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia-Ukraine war latest: explosions shake Kyiv; Ukraine counterattacks have blunted Russian gains, says UK – livePowerful blasts felt in Ukraine’s capital, says mayor Vitaly Klitschko; foreign minister angry at Macron’s comment that Russia must not be ‘humiliated’
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war latest: Putin warns of new targets; Zelenskiy visits troops on eastern front – livePutin says Russia will respond if Ukraine is supplied with longer-range missiles; the frontline creeps closer in Donbas as Sievierodonetsk sees heaviest battles
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war latest: Russia launches airstrikes into Kyiv and warns of further attacks – livePutin says Russia will hit fresh targets if US delivers long-range rockets, as powerful blasts felt in Ukraine’s capital
Read more »
Zelenskyy visits frontline cities as Russia resumes strikes on KyivUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Lysychansk and Soledar, two cities close to some of the most intense fighting between his country's troops and Russian forces, and Zaporizhzhia.
Read more »
US supports international inquiry into war crimes in Ukraine – as it happenedLocal governor says Ukrainian military has ‘pushed back’ Russian forces in battle for control of the city
Read more »
‘You all deserve victory’: Zelenskiy visits Ukraine troops on eastern frontlinePresident makes rare publicised visit outside Kyiv, close to Sievierodonetsk, where Ukrainian forces have taken back ground from Russian forces
Read more »