Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict — January 2026

Summary

• Systematic and repeated attacks by Russian armed forces on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure caused extensive disruptions to electricity, heating, and water across the country, affecting millions, as temperatures consistently remained below freezing.
   
• Conflict-related violence killed at least 161 and injured 757. The number of casualties was similar to January 2025.
   
• Attacks with long-range weapons (missiles and drones) launched by Russian armed forces caused 39 per cent of all civilian casualties (54 killed; 305 injured), most of them in urban centres far from the frontline. The remaining casualties occurred near the frontline (97 killed; 444 injured), with short-range drones causing the largest number of casualties (54 killed; 207 injured), followed by artillery and multiple launch rockets system (26 killed; 156 injured), and aerial bombardment (17 killed; 81 injured); and 18 civilians were killed or injured in ERW/mine-related incidents.
   
• The vast majority of civilian casualties (99 per cent¹) occurred in areas under the control of the Government of Ukraine. Civilian casualties were recorded across 12 regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv.
   

¹ 907 civilian casualties in territory controlled by Ukraine and 11 in territory occupied by the Russian Federation.