Translated with AI
The number of civilian casualties in Ukraine as a result of Russian attacks has increased by 50% in the first five months of 2025. This is stated in a new report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), published on June 26.
According to the mission, a rapid increase in civilian casualties has been recorded since the beginning of the summer period. The UN emphasizes that the strikes are carried out on objects that have no military significance and are accompanied by a significant number of victims.
"The use of ballistic missiles in densely populated areas inevitably results in widespread civilian harm. This is borne out by the recent attacks," said HRMMU chief Daniel Bell.
Of particular concern to international observers were the strikes carried out by Russian forces on June 23 against a lyceum in Belgorod-Dnistrovsky in Odessa Oblast and on June 24 against residential areas in Dnepr.
According to Bell, the timing of the attacks suggests a deliberate attempt to inflict as much damage on civilians as possible. In the case of the lyceum in the Odessa region, it has been confirmed that there were no children or military personnel in the educational institution at the time of the strike. Similar conclusions have been made regarding the attack on the Dnieper.
"HRMMU representatives who visited the sites of the strikes did not record any signs of a military presence. Witnesses also confirmed that these buildings did not house military facilities," the report says.
Let us recall that as a result of the strike on the Dnieper on June 24, 16 people were killed and more than 100 were injured. The day before, three civilians were killed in a missile strike in Belgorod-Dnistrovsky.
The UN has reiterated its call for respect for international humanitarian law and an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure.
