Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict — August 2025

Summary
• In August 2025, at least 208 civilians were killed and 827 injured, a 41 per cent decrease from July 2025 (307 killed; 1,461 injured), mainly attributed to a reduction in long-range attacks targeting urban areas during the first weeks of August.

• Most casualties (around 72 percent) occurred near the frontline, where overall civilian casualty levels remained consistent with recent months. • Short-range drones, including First-Person-View drones, caused the highest number of casualties (58 killed; 272 injured), surpassing the impact of any other weapon type in August.

• Long-range strikes with missiles and loitering munitions launched by Russian armed forces were the second leading cause of civilian casualties, accounting for around 28 per cent of the casualties (44 killed; 237 injured). These attacks continued to pose a serious threat to civilians, including in urban centres such as Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv.

• The remaining casualties were caused by artillery shelling and multiple launch rocket systems (260) and aerial bombs (146), near the frontline. Mines and explosive remnants of war caused 18 civilian casualties.

• As in previous month, the vast majority of civilian casualties (96 per cent)1 occurred in areas controlled by the Government of Ukraine. Civilian casualties were recorded across 15 regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv, including the Zakarpattia region for the first time since 24 February 2022.

• August 2025 also saw an increase in attacks affecting energy infrastructure, particularly gas facilities. At least 9 such attacks were documented in areas controlled by the Government of Ukraine.