Number of civilian casualties rises significantly over past six months – UN

Between June and November 2025, the number of civilian casualties resulting from Russian aggression against Ukraine increased significantly in both frontline and urban areas.

The UN Human Rights Office stated this in a report, according to Ukrinform.

"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," said Danielle Bell, who heads the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

According to the report, July saw the highest number of killed and injured civilians since April 2022. The massive combined drone and missile strike on Ternopil on November 19 claimed at least 36 lives — the largest attack in western Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

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In October and November 2025, Russia carried out eight large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy system, which led to emergency shutdowns and restrictions on electricity supply lasting up to 18 hours per day. Some regions also experienced prolonged interruptions to water and heating supplies, from several hours to several days.

As Ukrinform reported, the UN Security Council will discuss Russia's intensified shelling of Ukraine on Tuesday, December 9, and on Wednesday the UN General Assembly will vote on a resolution regarding the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster.