Kyiv, 9 April 2025 — The number of civilian casualties in Ukraine increased significantly in March, UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said in its monthly Protection of Civilians Update released today. With at least 164 killed and 910 injured, the number of civilian casualties in March was 50 per cent higher than in February 2025 (129 killed; 588 injured), and more than 70 per cent higher than the same period last year (129 killed; 498 injured in March 2024).
Ninety-five per cent of the civilian casualties occurred in territory controlled by the government of Ukraine, HRMMU said. Most casualties were caused by long-range missiles and loitering munitions.
“The number of civilian casualties in Ukraine rose, with casualties in March significantly higher than both last month and the same month a year ago,” Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU, said. “The near daily barrage of long-range drones killed and injured scores of civilians across the country last month, and disrupted life for millions more.”
One of the places most heavily affected in March was Kryvyi Rih, located about 60 to 70 kilometers from the frontline. Five attacks launched by Russian armed forces in the city in March killed at least six civilians and injured 66. Among the sites struck in these attacks were civilian buildings, including two hotels and a restaurant.
Deadly attacks on Kryvyi Rih by Russian armed forces continued into April, including a ballistic missile that detonated over a playground on 4 April, killing 19 civilians, including nine children, and reportedly injuring 74, including 12 children. This was the deadliest single attack for children that HRMMU has verified since the start of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk expressed his shock at the attack and called for a prompt, thorough and independent investigation.
In an incident that contributed to March’s high casualties, Russian armed forces launched an attack on 7 March that killed 11 civilians and injured 48 in Dobropillia town, Donetsk region. HRMMU’s examination of the site, interviews with victims and witnesses, and review of photos of weapon remnants determined that multiple weapons were used in the strike, including cluster munitions which caused many of the civilian casualties.
HRMMU also verified that two functioning hospitals were attacked multiple times with loitering munitions launched by Russian armed forces. Early on 14 March, three loitering munitions struck a hospital in Zolochiv, a town about 17 kilometers from the Russian border in Kharkiv region.
On 27 March, it was struck again by two loitering munitions. In a similar attack, at least five loitering munitions struck a hospital in Krasnopillia, Sumy region, on 19 March. Only one female ambulance paramedic sustained light injuries in the attacks, as hospital staff in all cases had followed safety protocols to ensure that patients and medical personnel were in shelters. However, both hospitals were damaged in the attacks, the Krasnopillia hospital significantly so. The fact that the two hospitals were directly struck multiple times raises the possibility that they were attacked deliberately, HRMMU said.
“Hospitals enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law and should not be subjected to attack,” Bell said.
