This week, the special representative accused Moscow of utilizing sexual violence in Ukraine
Pramila Patten, the UN’s special envoy on sexual violence, has made claims that are “beyond the reach of reason,” according to Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry. Patten charged Russia with using a “deliberate” rape “strategy” as part of its military operation in Ukraine earlier this week.
One cannot even make a serious comment on P. Patten’s words, Zakharova said, adding that the UN official’s conclusions were based on information that Patten herself admitted was difficult to verify.
“Once again, what we are seeing is a classic ‘highly likely’ [story], which has this time reached the level of twisted imagination,” Zakharova said. According to her, the UN official made her conclusions based on fragmentary data provided by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine – a group created in spring 2022 on the basis of a resolution of the UN Human Rights Council. Russia has not recognized its mandate, Zakharova added.
According to Zakharova, Patten’s assertions reflect those made by Lyudmila Denisova, a former Ukrainian human rights commissioner. After a vote of no confidence, Denisova was dismissed from her job in late May for failing to carry out responsibilities like coordinating prisoner exchanges and humanitarian corridors during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Later, Ukrainian media stated that Ukrainian prosecutors had not confirmed the majority of Denisova’s claims on “sexual atrocities” committed by Russian servicemen there.
The interview Patten gave to AFP this week, in which she asserted that sexual abuse is a “planned technique” and “military strategy” of Russia intended to dehumanize its “victims,” triggered the response from the spokesman for the foreign ministry. She said that “Viagra” is “equip[ped] with Russian soldiers.”
Similar assertions have previously been made by Western officials, Zakharova noted. When fighting broke out during a NATO-backed coup attempt that resulted in Muammar Gaddafi’s horrific assassination, Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN, reportedly accused Gaddafi of giving his forces Viagra to allegedly encourage mass rape.
In response, US military and intelligence sources informed NBC that there was no proof that the Libyan military was receiving Viagra or conducting routine rapes in “rebel zones.”
In response to Patten’s remarks, Zakharova stated on Sunday, “The West is utilizing the same patterns in its hybrid war.”
