Olga Bykovskaya sentenced to five years in prison for inciting war crimes
A Russian woman has been sentenced to prison after encouraging her husband, a Russian soldier, to rape Ukrainian women during the ongoing war, according to Russian newspaper Pravda. The sentencing comes as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues, marked by extensive destruction, human rights violations, and war crimes. Bykovskaya’s case has drawn widespread attention amid the broader context of wartime atrocities.
Citing Radio Liberty, Pravda reported that Olga Bykovskaya, a Russian citizen, was convicted in absentia by the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv for violating the laws and customs of war. She was sentenced to five years in prison.
Intercepted conversation exposed crime
In April 2022, Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) released an intercepted phone call between a Russian soldier and his wife. In the recording, Bykovskaya granted her husband permission to rape Ukrainian women, on the condition that he “uses protection.”
Identification and legal action
Journalists from Radio Liberty’s Ukrainian and Russian services identified the couple as Olga and Roman Bykovsky, residing in Feodosia, occupied Crimea.
Following the revelation, Ukrainian authorities issued a notice of suspicion against Bykovskaya for violating the laws and customs of war and placed her on an international wanted list. The investigation concluded in December 2022, and prosecutors formally filed an indictment against her.
