Ukraine Civilian Deaths Surge 26% in 2025: Russian Strikes Intensify

Civilian casualties in Ukraine surged by 26% in 2025, marking the deadliest year for civilians in the country since 2022, according to recent reports from both the United Nations and the conflict monitoring group Action on Armed Violence (AOAV). The increase reflects a marked escalation in Russian military targeting of urban areas and critical infrastructure, raising concerns about a broader erosion of the rules of war.

The AOAV reported that 2,248 civilians were killed and 12,493 injured by explosive violence in Ukraine throughout 2025, based on English-language reports. This represents a significant rise in the average number of casualties per incident, with an average of 4.8 civilians killed or injured in each Russian strike – a 33% increase compared to 2024. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) verified 2,514 civilian deaths and 12,142 injuries, a 31% increase from 2024 and a 70% increase from 2023.

The deadliest single attack documented by AOAV occurred on June 24th in Dnipro, where Russian missiles struck a passenger train, apartment buildings, and schools, resulting in 21 deaths and 314 injuries, including 38 children. This incident underscores the devastating impact of long-range weapons on civilian populations.

“The 31% increase in civilian casualties compared with 2024 represents a marked deterioration in the protection of civilians,” stated Danielle Bell, head of HRMMU. The UN mission’s monitoring indicates that the rise in casualties was driven by both intensified hostilities along the frontline and the expanded use of long-range weapons, exposing civilians across the country to heightened risk. The vast majority of casualties verified by HRMMU in 2025 – 97% – occurred in government-controlled territory as a result of attacks launched by Russian armed forces.

Frontline areas have been particularly affected, accounting for 63% of all casualties in 2025. Older persons are disproportionately impacted, comprising over 45% of those killed in frontline areas despite representing only 25% of the national population. The HRMMU documented 742 deaths of individuals aged 60 years and above in frontline areas during 2025.

The use of short-range drones has also contributed to the escalating civilian toll, with casualties caused by these weapons increasing by 120% in 2025, resulting in 577 deaths and 3,288 injuries compared to 226 deaths and 1,528 injuries in 2024.

Iain Overton, executive director of AOAV, described the figures as indicative of “a wider collapse of restraint” visible across multiple conflicts globally, asserting that respect for the principles of distinction and proportionality in war “has broken.” Deliberately targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure in a manner excessive to any direct military advantage constitutes a war crime, though experts suggest these principles are increasingly disregarded in conflicts including those in Gaza, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Ukraine.

While civilian casualties in Ukraine have risen sharply, global figures from explosive violence have decreased. AOAV recorded 45,358 civilian victims globally in 2025, down from 61,353 the previous year – a 26% reduction largely attributed to a ceasefire in Gaza in October. However, 14,024 civilian victims were recorded in Gaza in 2025, representing a 40% decrease from the prior year.

The intensification of Russian strikes, including a massive aerial assault on September 9th involving 805 drones and 13 missiles – the largest aerial raid recorded since the start of the war – has left millions of Ukrainians without reliable access to essential services like electricity, heating, and water. The escalating violence underscores the urgent need for increased protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict.