KYIV, 9 December 2025 — As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches the four-year mark, the civilian population faces almost daily attacks and growing hardship, according to a report issued by the UN Human Rights Office today.
“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 (HRMMU).
Between June and November 2025, civilian casualties rose significantly in both frontline and urban areas, with July marking the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries since April 2022. On 19 November, a large-scale combined drone–missile strike killed at least 36 civilians in Ternopil, marking the deadliest attack in western Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began.
Frontline regions have experienced a severe deterioration in living conditions. Short-range drones, aerial bombs, and other munitions caused extensive damage to residential buildings and other vital civilian infrastructure, effectively rendering some of these areas uninhabitable and triggering new displacement. In some frontline towns, many hospitals and clinics were destroyed or forced to close, leaving residents without access to basic healthcare. Disruption of water, heating, and electricity further reduced the ability of civilians, particularly older persons and persons with disabilities, to remain in their homes.
During October and November 2025, the Russian Federation launched eight large-scale, coordinated waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy system. These strikes triggered emergency power outages and daily electricity cuts in multiple regions, with scheduled power cuts lasting up to 18 hours per day. Some areas experienced interruptions in water services and heating lasting for many hours or days.
Between May and August 2025, Ukraine and the Russian Federation conducted the largest exchanges of prisoners of war (POWs) since 2022, however, HRMMU observed no improvements in the treatment of those interned.
“Systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of POWs is one of the most shocking and pervasive features of this war,” said Bell. “Of the 187 Ukrainian POWs recently freed by the Russian Federation, 185 provided accounts of severe beatings, stress positions, electric shocks, suffocation and dog attacks. 141 (75 percent) disclosed having been subjected to sexual violence. Interviewees also described harsh conditions of detention, limited medical care, and violence occurring during capture, transfer, admission to new facilities, and throughout internment.”
HRMMU interviewed 137 POWs held by Ukraine, including 10 nationals of third countries. More than half, including 37 POWs captured this year, provided accounts of torture and ill-treatment during interrogation or transfer, before arrival at official internment facilities. HRMMU continued to receive unfettered access to internment facilities and continued to observe conditions of detention largely compliant with international norms.
The report also highlights a rise in extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war. At least four incidents involving the killing of 10 Ukrainian servicepersons after capture by Russian forces were assessed as credible. It also recorded four executions of Russian POWs by Ukrainian armed forces, alongside credible allegations of three additional incidents currently under review. In territory of Ukraine under Russian Federation occupation, authorities continued to impose measures in violation of international humanitarian law. The report outlines worsening restrictions on freedom of movement, expression, religion, and access to independent information. Civilians faced increased pressure to adopt Russian citizenship, with daily life being almost impossible without a Russian passport. The report describes patterns of arbitrary arrest, prosecutions for criticism of the “special military operation”, the use of forced confessions, and the retroactive application of criminal laws.
Property rights have also been significantly affected. Occupying authorities continued implementing legislation enabling the expropriation of residential property of Ukrainians deemed “abandoned”. As of November 2025, at least 5,557 homes had been registered as such in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and transferred to municipal ownership. Ukrainians displaced to Government-controlled territory reported being unable to participate in judicial proceedings to verify the status and retain ownership of their private property.
Access to water further deteriorated in parts of occupied Donetsk region, where reduced water reservoir levels and ageing and/or damaged infrastructure necessitated water rationing. Households in some areas received running water only once every several days; many reported poor water quality and high costs associated with purchasing safe drinking water.
The report highlights the continued efforts of the Ukrainian authorities and humanitarian actors to support civilians affected by the hostilities, including large-scale evacuations, establishment of transit centres, and delivery of medical, psychosocial, and legal assistance, despite extremely challenging – and increasingly dangerous – conditions, including attacks on humanitarian workers and a UN convoy.
The report includes detailed findings and recommendations to the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the international community.
