Reparations to be paid to survivors of wartime sexual violence in Ukraine

Ukrainians protesting in Berlin at rapes by Russian soldiers. The Global Survivors Fund estimates thousands of Ukrainians have suffered sexual violence in the war. Photograph: F Boillot/Rex

The first reparation payments are to be made in the next few weeks to survivors of wartime rape by Russian soldiers during the invasion of Ukraine, in a move that Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, called “an important step towards restoring justice”.

Up to 500 Ukrainian survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are being identified and awarded with interim reparations this year, including financial, medical and psychological support.