Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska said on Saturday (March 4) that the country's prosecutor's office was investigating 171 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian troops. Addressing a panel discussion on sexual violence and war crimes, Zelenska said the above figures were official, speculating "we do not know how many suffer in silence, especially in the occupied territories."

"171 cases of sexual violence against Ukrainians are currently being investigated by the Prosecutor General's Office, and this figure is not limited to women, 39 men and 13 minors are among the victims. Among them is a boy. Most importantly, we know about these cases only because these people found the strength to speak. (Thanks to) their strength, the strength of their loved ones. We do not know how many suffer in silence, especially in the occupied territories," she said, the news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

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"Verdicts for Russian rapes and other war crimes are needed as a precedent, so that any potential aggressor, any collective rapists in the world knows that such things will not go unpunished. And for those to whom something still seems incomprehensible, who hint towards making concessions to the aggressor. We must liberate our land from the invader not only because we want to return to universally recognised borders," she added.&nbsp;

The First Lady also said everybody would be held accountable for crimes they committed, and atrocities that have seen committed against the brave Ukrainians.

Olena Zelenska has previously accused Moscow of using rape as a weapon of war in her country. In November last year, she claimed that the wives of Russian servicemen encouraged them to rape Ukrainian women.&nbsp;

"Sexual violence is the most cruel, most animalistic way to prove mastership over someone. And for victims of this kind of violence, it is difficult to testify in war times because nobody feels safe", she said during an international conference in London, according to a report by Sky News.&nbsp;

The First Lady's remarks on Saturday come just days after Kyiv's human rights commissioner accused Russians of kidnapping Ukrainian children and selling them for sex. "Telegram channels revealed that Russians are kidnapping Ukrainian children and making sexual videos with them," rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said in a post on Telegram.&nbsp;

Lubinets added that Russians offered $3,315 (250,000 rubbles) for a boy who is an orphan. He posted an excerpt from an exchange on WhatsApp between two people allegedly discussing using a young boy for a child pornography shoot. The human rights commissioner called on Ukraine's police, cyber police and prosecutors to take "appropriate measures to find and punish the guilty.

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Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska said on Saturday (March 4) that the country's prosecutor's office was investigating 171 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian troops.

Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska said on Saturday (March 4) that the country's prosecutor's office was investigating 171 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian troops. Addressing a panel discussion on sexual violence and war crimes, Zelenska said the above figures were official, speculating "we do not know how many suffer in silence, especially in the occupied territories." "171 cases of sexual violence against Ukrainians are currently being investigated by the Prosecutor General's Office, and this figure is not limited to women, 39 men and 13 minors are among the victims. Among them is a boy. Most importantly, we know about these cases only because these people found the strength to speak. (Thanks to) their strength, the strength of their loved ones. We do not know how many suffer in silence, especially in the occupied territories," she said, the news agency Reuters reported. ALSO READ | Ukraine war: Steel plant builds six-person bunkers for front line troops "Verdicts for Russian rapes and other war crimes are needed as a precedent, so that any potential aggressor, any collective rapists in the world knows that such things will not go unpunished. And for those to whom something still seems incomprehensible, who hint towards making concessions to the aggressor. We must liberate our land from the invader not only because we want to return to universally recognised borders," she added. The First Lady also said everybody would be held accountable for crimes they committed, and atrocities that have seen committed against the brave Ukrainians. Olena Zelenska has previously accused Moscow of using rape as a weapon of war in her country. In November last year, she claimed that the wives of Russian servicemen encouraged them to rape Ukrainian women. "Sexual violence is the most cruel, most animalistic way to prove mastership over someone. And for victims of this kind of violence, it is difficult to testify in war times because nobody feels safe", she said during an international conference in London, according to a report by Sky News. The First Lady's remarks on Saturday come just days after Kyiv's human rights commissioner accused Russians of kidnapping Ukrainian children and selling them for sex. "Telegram channels revealed that Russians are kidnapping Ukrainian children and making sexual videos with them," rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said in a post on Telegram. Lubinets added that Russians offered $3,315 (250,000 rubbles) for a boy who is an orphan. He posted an excerpt from an exchange on WhatsApp between two people allegedly discussing using a young boy for a child pornography shoot. The human rights commissioner called on Ukraine's police, cyber police and prosecutors to take "appropriate measures to find and punish the guilty. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war: Govt probing 171 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian troops, says First Lady Zelenska

Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska, who last week tested positive for the coronavirus, has been hospitalised with pneumonia, the presidency said on Tuesday. 
 
Zelenska, 42, has been diagnosed with double pneumonia, the presidency said, adding that oxygen treatment was not required. 
 
"Her condition is stable," it said in a statement.

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Zelenska said on Friday she had tested positive for the coronavirus, while her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and their two children had tested negative. 
 
Zelensky's spokeswoman Yuliya Mendel said the 42-year-old leader was "feeling well" and being tested for coronavirus "every single day". 
 
"All his results are negative", she told AFP. 
 
Zelensky continues to work from his Kiev office, but has reduced social contact and was now in touch with a "very narrow circle of people", Mendel said. 
 
He also cancelled domestic trips that had been scheduled for this week, she added. 
 
Zelenska said last week the positive test was a surprise as she and the president had sought to follow social distancing rules and protected themselves. 
 
But the president came under fire early this month when he appeared without a mask in a cafe&nbsp;during a visit to the city of Khmelnytsky in central Ukraine.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/ukraine-presidents-wife-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-305425" hreflang="en">Ukraine president's wife tests positive for coronavirus</a> 
 
In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda news site last week, Zelensky said that he even wanted to get infected with the coronavirus to show people that it was "scary" but "not a plague". 
 
Authorities said there had been an "alarming" rise in coronavirus cases as the country eases the lockdown. 
 
Lockdown restrictions eased gradually in late May and early June with a resumption of public transport, including metro systems and long-distance and local train services. 
 
On Tuesday, the ex-Soviet country reported 32,476 cases and 912 fatalities.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska, who last week tested positive for the coronavirus, has been hospitalised with pneumonia, the presidency said on Tuesday. Zelenska, 42, has been diagnosed with double pneumonia, the presidency said, adding that oxygen treatment was not required.

Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska, who last week tested positive for the coronavirus, has been hospitalised with pneumonia, the presidency said on Tuesday. Zelenska, 42, has been diagnosed with double pneumonia, the presidency said, adding that oxygen treatment was not required. "Her condition is stable," it said in a statement. Also read: Ukraine alleges $5 million bribe over Burisma, claims there's no Biden link Zelenska said on Friday she had tested positive for the coronavirus, while her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and their two children had tested negative. Zelensky's spokeswoman Yuliya Mendel said the 42-year-old leader was "feeling well" and being tested for coronavirus "every single day". "All his results are negative", she told AFP. Zelensky continues to work from his Kiev office, but has reduced social contact and was now in touch with a "very narrow circle of people", Mendel said. He also cancelled domestic trips that had been scheduled for this week, she added. Zelenska said last week the positive test was a surprise as she and the president had sought to follow social distancing rules and protected themselves. But the president came under fire early this month when he appeared without a mask in a cafe during a visit to the city of Khmelnytsky in central Ukraine. Also read: Ukraine president's wife tests positive for coronavirus In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda news site last week, Zelensky said that he even wanted to get infected with the coronavirus to show people that it was "scary" but "not a plague". Authorities said there had been an "alarming" rise in coronavirus cases as the country eases the lockdown. Lockdown restrictions eased gradually in late May and early June with a resumption of public transport, including metro systems and long-distance and local train services. On Tuesday, the ex-Soviet country reported 32,476 cases and 912 fatalities.

Ukraine first lady hospitalised with pneumonia 

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Ukraine war: Govt probing 171 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian troops, says First Lady Zelenska

Ukraine first lady hospitalised with pneumonia