A one-year-old boy has died after he was raped by two Russian soldiers, Ukraine claims.
Horrific reports from the Kharkiv region have emerged since invaders were pushed back the week.
The accusation is one of the most horrific from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but is not unique.
Russian troops in the wider city, as well as surrounding towns and villages, were forced to ‘regroup’ after Ukraine regained control.
They left a trail of devastation in their wake, including allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Leontiivna did not give further details of what is alleged to have happened, but said that the report had been received in the previous 24 hours. Insider could find no independent evidence for the claim.
The majority of new reports were coming from around Kharkiv, she said, though did not give a specific location for the allegation about the one-year-old. Most reports were made by relatives or, for those who did not die, by the victims themselves, she said.
Russian forces have this week been withdrawing from the area around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, which had long been subject to heavy attacks.
The commissioner divulged that her office recieved 10 reports of sexual violence in one hour on Thursday, including eight cases of minors being raped.
Ms Denisova said:
‘I appeal to the UN Commission for Investigation Human Rights Violations during the Russian military invasion of Ukraine to take into account these facts of genocide of the Ukrainian people.’
Her office received 10 reports of sexual violence in just one hour on Thursday, she added.
The claims have not been verified but, it is thought the incidents could have taken place in Kharkiv.
The claims of rape and sexual violence have been backed up by Iryna Matviyishyn, a Ukrainian journalist.
She has written of other alleged atrocities, such as the rape of three nine-year-old triplets in front of their mother, in her reporting on the conflict.
