Name
#152 A Scoping Review of Conflict Related-Sexual Violence (CRSV) in Ukraine
Content Presented On Behalf Of:
Uniformed Services University
Session Type
Poster
Date
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Start Time
5:00 PM
End Time
7:00 PM
Location
Prince Georges Expo Hall E
Focus Areas/Topics
Wellbeing, Trending/Hot Topics or Other not listed
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify the scope of current literature surrounding CRSV in Ukraine following the 2014 and 2022 Russian invasions.
2. Compare the presence of CRSV in Ukraine to other CRSV to other settings.
3. Describe the evidence gaps and potential interventions to inform policies and programs related to CRSV-response and prevention.
Session Currently Live
Description
Introduction: The conflicts between Ukraine and Russia since 2014 has increased the risk of Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) in Ukraine, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities among women, men, children and marginalized communities. CRSV is defined by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, forced marriages and other forms of violence of comparable gravity against women, men, girls, or boys directly linked to conflict.1 Little is known about the true extent of CRSV in Ukraine following the 2014 and 2022 Russian Federation invasions. The objective of this study is to systematically map and synthesize existing evidence of CRSV in Ukraine since the Russian invasions, develop an understanding of current CRSV-related indicators, and identify key concepts and knowledge gaps to inform future research and operations within Ukraine. Methods: The study team conducted a scoping review to methodically assess the available literature regarding CRSV in Ukraine. We conducted a comprehensive search among nine databases for articles published in the period of January 2014 to May 2025 that discussed prevalence, risk factors, or interventions related to CRSV. Reviewers conducted abstract screening, full-text screening, and data extraction for eligible articles, and applied a critical appraisal tool to assess the quality of the identified literature. Results: We identified twelve articles published between 2021 and 2025, comprising 9 cross-sectional studies and 3 qualitative studies. Significant forms of CRSV identified in Ukraine included sexual assault or rape, along with physical, emotional or psychosocial abuse. Primary contextual factors associated with CRSV were displacement and contact with soldiers. Five studies assessed CRSV exclusively among women, while the rest reported on CRSV among both men and women. Key gaps in the literature included underreporting of CRSV and the lack of formal prevalence studies, which hinder the ability to establish the true scope of CRSV. The majority of the studies presented an overall low risk of bias. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review exploring CRSV in Ukraine. The current literature base suggests the risk of CRSV in Ukraine has increased since the Russian invasion. While some policies and programs to address CRSV are being implemented, the identified gaps in literature highlight an urgent need for further research for implementation of prevention and response of CRSV in Ukraine.