This is the most sickening thing about war, the majority of the people caught up in it are innocents, no matter who's right or wrong. The thing is, only the leaders of the countries really even know why the war is happening, the people just get dragged along for the ride.

I sincerely doubt that any instructions were given with regards to the attack and rape of civilians, so that's down to the soldiers themselves. How can you go into war without it affecting your moral compass? In order to kill the opposing side you have to have dehumanised them, so this is the inevitable result.