Urgent call for the listing of the Russian Federation in the annex to the annual report of the UN Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence

Dear Secretary-General,

We, the undersigned individuals, non-governmental organisations, and survivor-led groups, write to you as a matter of urgency regarding the ongoing commission of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) by the Russian Federation in the context of its occupation and full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We respectfully request that your office list in the forthcoming Annual Report of the UN Secretary-General on CRSV, relevant actors of the Russian Federation, including the Russian Armed Forces, Russian National Guard, Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN), and Federal Security Service (FSS), as parties credibly suspected of committing such acts.

There is extensive and credible evidence, including from the United Nations itself, that the armed forces and associated actors of the Russian Federation have perpetrated widespread sexual violence both as a method of torture and as a consequence of its military operations. This has been consistently affirmed in successive Annual Reports of the UN Secretary-General on CRSV, including the most recent 2024 report (S/2024/292), which details reported cases of rape, sexual torture, and other grave sexual abuses committed by Russian Federation personnel.

Since then, the latest periodic report on the treatment of prisoners of war and update on the human rights situation in Ukraine has reported that 68% of the 377 Ukrainian prisoners of war interviewed experienced forms of CRSV and emphasised the coordinated nature of such abuses. The recently released periodic report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has recorded 550 cases of CRSV between 2022 and 2025, of which 484 were perpetrated by Russian Federation personnel against women, men, and children, including prisoners of war and civilians.

Many survivors in Ukraine have spoken publicly about their experiences of sexual violence by Russian Federation personnel, courageously risking personal consequences in an effort to secure justice and prevent future harm. Many of the individual and organisational signatories to this letter have also personally documented numerous incidents of sexual violence against women, men, and children in occupied areas and in contexts of deprivation of liberty.

Given the findings of such documentation efforts and the ongoing nature of these violations, it is clear that the Russian Federation’s actions meet the established criteria for listing pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1960 (2010). The continued absence of a state actor with such a persistent and well-documented record of sexual violence from the Annex risks undermining the credibility and integrity of the listing mechanism.

We strongly believe that listing relevant actors of the Russian Federation is not only warranted but essential to maintaining the authority of the UN’s CRSV accountability system. Listing would also trigger the structured engagement process necessary to press for compliance, address impunity, and prevent further violations.

We thank you for your leadership and remain available for further engagement on this matter.

Signed by:

Dr Albina Basysta

All Survivors Project

Alumni Network of Ukrainian Men who Survived Captivity and Torture

Andreiev Family Foundation

Mr Andrii Kostin

Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation

Eastern-Ukrainian Center of Civil Initiatives

Global Survivors Fund

La Strada Ukraine

Legal Action Worldwide

Media Initiative for Human Rights

Numo Sisters!

SEMA Ukraine

Synergy for Justice

Truth Hounds

Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association “Jurfem”

Human Rights Centre ZMINA

29th December