Family locked in basement and woman raped: two Russians convicted for crimes during occupation of Kharkiv Oblast

Two Russian soldiers have been convicted in absentia for the rape of a Ukrainian woman during the occupation of Kharkiv Oblast in April 2022. The Russians had threatened to kill the woman and her relatives.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Details: Prosecutors established that in 2022 a Russian colonel, alias Vovk (Wolf), and his subordinate, alias Maloi (Kid), had carried out "inspections" of residents' homes in Kharkiv Oblast.

In one house, Maloi offered a woman to "take her out to dinner" together with his commander. The woman refused, and the Russians returned later.

At the time, the woman and her family – her elderly parents, her husband and her children – were sheltering from Russian attacks in the basement.

Quote from the prosecutors: "Colonel Vovk brought the victim's father out of the shelter and held a pistol to his temple, forcing him to call his daughter. When the woman came out, Vovk, threatening her with a weapon, took her into the house."

More details: The woman's relatives were locked in the basement while Maloi stood guard to prevent them from leaving. Prosecutors said the commander then raped the woman, threatening to shoot her.

The prosecution identified the two Russians as the commander of the 99th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the Third Motor Rifle Division of Russia's 20th Combined Arms Army, Western Military District, and a driver from the 752nd Motor Rifle Regiment of the same division. Both have been tried and convicted in absentia in Ukraine.

They were found guilty of cruel treatment of civilians and other violations of the laws and customs of war involving rape and the use of physical and psychological coercion under Article 28.2 and Article 438.1 of Ukraine's Criminal Code.

The court sentenced both men to 12 years in prison. Prosecutors said the term will be served after their arrest. The Russian soldiers have been put on the wanted list.

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