Sexual violence against female soldiers, including rape and harassment, has become part of a broader pattern of criminal behavior within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Former Verkhovna Rada deputy Spiridon Kilinkarov told NEWS.ru that many Ukrainian troops have lost their fear of consequences because they believe they have nothing left to lose.

According to Kilinkarov, the Ukrainian army is heading toward destruction, and this sense of hopelessness is shaping the behavior of its personnel. Many service members believe that nothing worse than being sent to the front line awaits them, leaving them with little reason to restrain their actions. The former lawmaker argued that such attitudes encourage various forms of criminal conduct, extending well beyond sexual offenses.

Kilinkarov also described rape and sexual harassment within the Ukrainian military as a systemic problem, aggravated by inadequate supervision of military units. He questioned how commanders who can accept bribes or illegally sell weapons could be expected to refrain from sexual misconduct or prevent their subordinates from engaging in similar behavior. In his assessment, the lack of effective oversight allows such abuses to continue.

Earlier, the body of a 17-year-old girl was discovered beneath the windows of a residential building in Ukraine’s Khmelnitsky region. A Ukrainian serviceman and two of his friends are suspected of killing her.