Protection of civilians

At least 174 civilians were killed and 690 injured in Ukraine in May, the highest monthly number of civilian casualties the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has documented since June 2023. The number of killed civilians represents a 31 per cent increase compared to April 2024. 

The United Nations in Ukraine condemns the severe violations of children's rights caused by Russia's invasion. More than two years since the escalation of the war, heavy hostilities continue to inflict immense physical, psychological, and emotional harm on children, disrupting their lives and jeopardizing their future.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine documented a continued high level of civilian casualties due to intense hostilities near the frontline in April, while Russian armed forces also launched coordinated large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure, which threatened Ukraine’s power and transportation systems.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified that at least 604 civilians were killed or injured in Ukraine in March 2024, a 20 per cent increase compared with February 2024.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified that at least 502 civilians were killed or injured in Ukraine in February 2024. This number constitutes a 24 per cent decrease in comparison with January 2024, after a spike in civilian casualties documented in December 2023 and January 2024, primarily from intensified attacks by Russian armed forces with missile and loitering munitions operational at long ranges.