The United Nations says it’s investigating reports of sexual violence and rape committed by Russian troops in Ukraine. Sima Bahous, the executive director of UN Women, spoke Monday to the U.N. Security Council. 

Sima Bahous: “The combination of mass displacement with the large presence of conscripts and mercenaries, and the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians, has raised all red flags.

Bahous also warned of increasing risks of human and sexual trafficking of young women and unaccompanied teenagers. Her comments came as human rights worker Kateryna Cherepakha testified her organization has documented nine cases of rape by Russian soldiers involving 12 women and girls — something she called just the “tip of the iceberg.”

Kateryna Cherepakha: “We know that many of these cases will hardly, or even never, be disclosed, unfortunately, as many of those suffered are killed already by Russian invaders. We know and see — and we want you to hear our voices — that violence and rape is used now as a weapon of war by Russian invaders in Ukraine.”