The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in at least 15,172 civilian deaths and 41,378 injuries since the onset of full-scale hostilities, according to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. The data, released as of January 31, 2026, suggests that the actual number of casualties may be significantly higher.
Among the reported casualties, at least 766 children have died, and 2,540 have sustained injuries. The UN noted that in 2025 alone, at least 2,526 civilians were killed and 12,162 injured, marking a 31% increase in casualties compared to 2024 and a 70% rise from 2023.
The rise in civilian casualties has been attributed to an increase in the use of long-range weapons, including missiles and loitering munitions, which accounted for 35% of civilian casualties in 2025. Specifically, there were 686 deaths and 4,451 injuries linked to these attacks, representing a 66% increase from the previous year. Additionally, incidents involving short-range drones in frontline areas saw a staggering 121% rise in casualties.
Approximately 63% of all civilian casualties in 2025 occurred in frontline regions, indicating the heightened risks faced by those living in these areas. The UN has highlighted the severe impact of continuous and systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
As of January 2026, Ukraine has reportedly lost over half of its pre-war electricity generation capacity due to occupation and damage from attacks, now generating only 11 GW, which falls short of the 18 GW needed during peak winter consumption. This gap has led to prolonged electricity shortages, with residents experiencing power for only a few hours each day or none at all for several days.
Russian military operations have consistently targeted Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure using various weapons, including drones and missiles. Both Ukrainian authorities and international organizations have classified these attacks as war crimes, emphasizing their deliberate nature.
Attacks on essential services and healthcare facilities aim to deprive civilians of electricity, heat, water, communication, and medical assistance. Legal experts and human rights advocates have raised concerns that these actions could constitute genocidal behavior, citing public statements from Russian officials that deny the existence of Ukrainians as an ethnic group and call for their destruction.
Legal definitions of genocide, as outlined in the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, include acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Indicators of genocide include the killing of group members, causing serious bodily or mental harm, and deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction.
Despite these allegations, Russian leadership denies that its military is intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure or causing civilian casualties, which has drawn widespread condemnation from various international bodies.
The UN has reported significant civilian casualties in Ukraine, with over 15,000 deaths since the conflict escalated. The use of long-range weapons has increased, contributing to a rise in injuries and fatalities, particularly among children, while the humanitarian crisis intensifies due to damage to energy infrastructure.