As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth year, the toll on civilians continues to mount, with the United Nations and local authorities warning of escalating attacks, deteriorating living conditions, and intensifying diplomatic challenges. The latest reports paint a grim picture of daily violence, widespread destruction, and mounting hardship for millions across the war-torn country.
According to a new report from the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), civilian casualties surged dramatically between June and November 2025. July marked the deadliest month since April 2022, with a total of 1,420 civilians killed and 6,545 injured during the reporting period. This represents a 12% increase over the same period in 2024 and a nearly 40% jump compared to the previous six months. Among the casualties were 61 medical workers, 99 emergency service personnel, six media professionals, and 13 humanitarian workers, highlighting the indiscriminate impact of the violence.
Western Ukraine, which had previously seen fewer large-scale attacks, suffered its deadliest incident since the start of the invasion when a combined drone and missile strike killed at least 36 civilians in Ternopil on November 19, 2025. The devastation was not limited to the frontlines. Cities and towns across Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Sumy regions have experienced relentless shelling, leaving residential buildings and vital infrastructure in ruins. In the words of Danielle Bell, head of the HRMMU, "Our findings establish several worrying trends: rising civilian casualties in both frontline and urban areas, sustained attacks on energy infrastructure, and continued patterns of systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees."
The winter months have brought additional hardship. As reported by Kyoko Goto, a representative of the UN Department of Political Affairs, Peacebuilding, and Peacekeeping Operations, "Systematic attacks on energy infrastructure in the middle of winter threaten to leave millions of people without reliable heating, water, and public transportation." During October and November alone, Russia launched eight large-scale, coordinated waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy grid. The resulting emergency power outages and electricity cuts lasted up to 18 hours per day, with interruptions to water and heating services stretching for days in some areas. Older people and persons with disabilities were particularly affected, facing extreme challenges in accessing basic necessities.
The destruction has extended to Ukraine’s educational system as well. Over 340 educational institutions have been destroyed since the start of the invasion, further eroding the country’s social fabric and future prospects for children and young adults. The UN has confirmed that since February 24, 2022, at least 14,775 civilians have died in Ukraine, including 755 children, with more than 39,000 people injured—2,416 of whom are children. The cumulative impact of these losses is felt in every corner of the country, from the battered frontlines to the relative safety of the west.
Recent days have brought their own tragedies. On December 8, 2025, Russian shelling killed at least four civilians in the Donetsk and Kherson regions, with nearly 50 more injured across Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy. Victims included three residents of Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka targeted by drones, artillery, and bombs, and a man from Kherson caught in an artillery strike. In the Donetsk region alone, 16 civilians were wounded, including two children—a 13-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl. In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian airstrike on the regional center injured 16 people, while more than 500 strikes were launched on the region in a single day using a variety of weapons. Elderly residents, particularly in Kharkiv, have been disproportionately affected, raising concerns about age discrimination and the unique vulnerabilities faced by older Ukrainians.
The humanitarian crisis is compounded by the destruction of hospitals and clinics, especially in frontline towns, leaving countless residents without access to basic healthcare. Disruptions in water, electricity, and heating have forced many to flee their homes and seek shelter elsewhere, often in overcrowded transit centers established by Ukrainian authorities and humanitarian organizations. Despite the dangers—including attacks on aid workers—these groups continue to provide medical, psychosocial, and legal assistance to those in need.
Amid the violence, the plight of prisoners of war (POWs) and detainees has come under renewed scrutiny. The latest UN report documents systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of both Ukrainian and Russian POWs. According to Danielle Bell, "Systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of POWs is one of the most shocking and pervasive features of this war." One Ukrainian POW described his ordeal: "During my whole time in the facility, we were beaten almost every day. The guards beat us almost every time we were leaving the cell for an inspection or to go to the medical unit or shower. Several times I was beaten so badly that my body hurt for weeks." Among the 187 Ukrainian POWs recently released by Russia, 185 provided accounts of severe beatings, electric shocks, suffocation, dog attacks, and, in many cases, sexual violence. The report also records at least four credible incidents of extrajudicial executions of Ukrainian POWs by Russian forces, as well as four executions of Russian POWs by Ukrainian armed forces.
Life in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories remains fraught with peril. Authorities have imposed increasingly harsh restrictions on freedom of movement, expression, religion, and access to independent information. A decree issued by Russia in March 2025 set a deadline of September 10 for Ukrainian citizens in occupied areas to obtain Russian documents or face deportation. Arbitrary arrests, forced confessions, and prosecutions for criticizing the "special military operation" have become commonplace, further undermining the rule of law.
On the international stage, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have intensified, though not without controversy. The United Nations General Assembly has called for Russia to immediately return Ukrainian children taken from occupied territories, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres has reiterated his call for a complete, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire. "People in Ukraine seek a just and lasting peace that meets their expectations and ensures long-term regional stability," Kyoko Goto emphasized, expressing hope that current initiatives led by the United States will help bring about negotiations. However, diplomatic maneuvering has sparked debate within Ukraine and among its allies. According to Axios, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is under pressure from the United States to consider territorial concessions as part of a "peace plan" championed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy, however, has pushed back, stating, "First of all—not the United States: the originator of this idea was Russia, that we should give up our territories. Of course, we want America in this matter, in this context, to be on our side. Look, Russia will want us to give up our territories, and we will defend our interests."
As talks continue, the question of security guarantees and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO and the European Union remains at the forefront. Zelenskyy has stressed the importance of bilateral security guarantees with the United States, noting, "They formulate it in the 20-point plan as ‘Article 5 Mirror,’ meaning the same as Article 5, which NATO has. We want to understand the details regarding this issue." Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump has called for Ukraine to hold a presidential election, arguing that the absence of a vote undermines democracy—a stance that has drawn criticism from European officials who maintain that elections must wait until conditions permit.
Despite the unrelenting violence and diplomatic uncertainty, Ukrainian authorities and civil society remain committed to supporting civilians and defending the country’s sovereignty. The road ahead is fraught with danger and complexity, but the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people continue to shine through the darkness of war.
