The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in a significant increase in civilian casualties, with numbers soaring by 31% from January to September 2025 compared to the same period last year. This alarming statistic was revealed in the monthly report published by the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) on Thursday.
According to HRMMU chief Danielle Bell, the high civilian casualties in the past month highlight a disturbing trend of intense violence in Ukraine. She noted that virtually every day sees civilian deaths or injuries, particularly in frontline communities. The report indicated that 69% of the September casualties occurred near the frontline, with the Donetsk and Kherson regions in eastern Ukraine reporting notably high numbers. Shockingly, nearly 30% of all casualties were caused by short-range drone attacks.
In a tragic incident in Donetsk region, a bomb struck an area near a postal service vehicle as seniors were collecting their pensions. Of the casualties, 21 individuals killed and 13 injured were over the age of 60. HRMMU highlighted that older persons are often among the last residents to evacuate from their communities, resulting in a high number of elderly casualties. Last month alone, at least 87 older persons lost their lives.
The conflict in Ukraine has also taken a toll on critical infrastructure in the country. In September, there was a 15% increase in attacks affecting energy infrastructure compared to August 2025, with 31 documented attacks. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that weekend attacks left approximately 70,000 people without electricity and disrupted gas and water supplies. As winter approaches, humanitarians warned that further strikes on critical infrastructure would worsen civilian needs.
HRMMU reported that on Thursday night, another massive countrywide strike targeted energy facilities, resulting in power outages in several regions, including the capital, and tragically claiming the life of a seven-year-old boy. The ongoing attacks have instilled fear and disrupted the daily lives of many civilians in Ukraine. One man who was evacuated from Kostiantynivka, a city in eastern Ukraine, expressed his distress, stating, “We used to feel a sense of security at home, but not anymore. Drones are buzzing like bees, flying without a break. We can’t sleep at night nor during the day. We are exhausted.”
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, HRMMU has documented a staggering number of civilian casualties. At least 14,383 civilians have been killed, including 738 children, and 37,541 have been injured, including 2,318 children. The conflict has taken a devastating toll on the civilian population, with no end in sight to the violence and suffering.
The situation in Ukraine remains dire, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict. The international community must come together to support efforts to end the violence and ensure the protection of civilians in Ukraine. The escalation of attacks on critical infrastructure and the targeting of civilians, including the elderly and children, is a grave violation of human rights and must be condemned in the strongest terms. It is imperative that all parties involved in the conflict prioritize the safety and well-being of civilians and work towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ukraine.
