It covers the period From December 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025, during which 986 civilians were killed and 4,807 injured – an increase of 37% compared to the same period the previous year.
“” The war in Ukraine – now in its fourth year – becomes more and more deadly for civilians »» said Danielle Bell, Head of the United Nations Human Rights Surveillance Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).
“We continue to document the models of violence which are incompatible with the obligations under international humanitarian law.”
Concern about the use of short -range drones
Most of the victims have occurred in areas under the control of the Ukrainian government, mainly due to Russian attacks using long -range explosive weapons in populated areas and short -range drones near first -line locations.
Almost half of all the victims were caused by missiles, strolling ammunition and air bombs in densely populated areas. At least three attacks involved the use of missiles with fragmentation warheads that have exploded over the ground and dispersed fragments in large open areas, killing and injuring many civilians at the same time.
The use of short -term drones leads to the increase in civilian victims, according to the report. Ohchr Check that 207 civilians were killed and 1,365 injured during these attacks.
Among the deadliest incidents, there was a Russian drone strike on a civil bus carrying employees of a mining company to work in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Eight women and two men were killed and 57 people were injured.
“The high number of civilian victims of the use of short -range drones, which allow operators to see their targets in real time, raises serious concerns,” said Bell said.
“” Our results strongly suggest the failure of the distinction between civil and military targets, and to take all the precautions achievable to verify the military nature of these targets – or worse, an intentional decision not to not.“”
During the same period, the Russian forces struck directly at least five hospitals. Some of the attacks have used several munitions of vagueness, suggesting a deliberate potential targeting of hospitals in violation of international humanitarian law.
Prisoners of war
Serious violations against prisoners of war (prisoners of war) also remain a major concern, according to the report. Ohchr has documented credible allegations according to which at least 35 prisoners of Ukrainian war and a Russian war prisoner was executed during the reference period.
The staff interviewed 117 recently released Ukrainian prisoners of war and two members of medical staff detained, almost all described as tortured and abused in captivity. This included severe blows, electric shocks, sexual violence, dog attacks and deliberate humiliation, often carried out by staff bearing hoods to hide their identity.
Ms. Bell said that the continuous brutalization of Ukrainian prisoners of war is not only inhuman, but a serious violation of international law.
“” These are not isolated incidents – they indicate well -documented models of generalized and systematic torture that require urgent and unambiguous responsibility, and measures to prevention“She said.
Meanwhile, more than half of the Russian prisoners of war and nationals of the third country held by Ukraine also reported abuse – in particular torture, ill -treatment, threats and internment in unofficial facilities – which have mainly occurred in places of public transport before arrival in official places of internment.
Concerning rights in areas occupied by Russia
The report highlights ongoing concerns on human rights with Ukrainian civilians illegally held by the Russian authorities, mainly in occupied territory. Liberated people have described torture, ill -treatment and disastrous conditions of detention.
The Ukrainians, in the occupied territory, were faced with increased coercion to adopt Russian citizenship. Ohchr has documented more than 16,000 houses listed by the Russian occupation authorities as potentially “abandoned” and therefore at risk of being confiscated.
Displaced residents were faced with serious legal and logistical obstacles, as well as security risks, to recover their goods.
Ukrainian children recruited
Another problem covered in the report is the recruitment and use of Ukrainian children “to sabotage the activities of growing gravity against Ukrainian military objectives”.
Children were recruited by unidentified actors, probably affiliated with Russia, according to Ukrainian authorities in the application of laws. Some of these young people have been killed or injured, while others face prosecution after being attracted by social media to commit a criminal fire or explosives.
“The use of children to commit acts of sabotage or violence exploits their vulnerability and endangers their lives,” said Bell. “” He aggravates their sufferings by exposing them to violence, coercion and severe legal consequences.“”
Ohchr has also expressed his concerns about the situation of the elderly, mainly women, as well as disabled people, who remain disproportionate risks, especially in front line areas.
Many are unable to evacuate due to poverty and limited housing options, while those who can often face long stays in shelters that lack appropriate installations, or they are placed in institutional environment due to the absence of appropriate alternatives.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
