Les racines systémiques de la violence sexuelle en temps de guerre russo-ukrainien: une analyse multidimensionnelle
The Systemic Origins of Sexual Violence in the Context of the Russo-Ukrainian War: A Multidimensional Analysis

Summary/Abstract: The ongoing armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation has given rise to numerous discussions on logistical and strategic aspects, particularly regarding improving the material and moral support provided to Ukrainian soldiers. These discussions are part of a wartime logic, where priorities are focused on survival, resilience, and military effectiveness. However, beyond these considerations, an invisible front emerges, on which thousands of Ukrainian women and girls are struggling. They face not only the material deprivation and precarious living conditions inherent in war, but also various forms of violence, particularly sexual violence, perpetrated both by men in their circles (partners) and by enemy soldiers. Despite the social context where they still tend to remain in the background, particularly in military contexts, women continue to perceive men as heroes – sacrificial figures whose suffering wrongly justifies the exercise of physical domination or even sexual violence against them. This study aims to explore the root causes of violence against women in the context of war, with a particular focus on sexual violence. To address this issue, the analysis draws on the results of previous research conducted in the context of other armed conflicts, as well as on the observations of Ukrainian specialists, including psychologists and civil society activists working with victims. The conclusions that emerge are largely predictable, given that Ukrainian society retains a patriarchal structure.

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