The latest data released by the United Nations reveals a tragic reality in the conflict in Eastern Europe, with 2025 recording the highest rate of civilian casualties in Ukraine since the outbreak of full-scale war in February 2022. This alarming increase is a direct result of the escalation of military operations and the changing tactics of confrontation on the ground.
Shocking figures and an unprecedented escalation
According to a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 2,514 civilians were killed and 12,142 others sustained injuries of varying severity in 2025. These figures represent a 31% increase compared to 2024, reflecting a serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation.
Danielle Bell, head of the UNHCR monitoring mission in Ukraine, explained that this increase is not simply a result of traditional clashes along the contact line, but is primarily due to Russia's expanded use of long-range weapons. This military tactic has put civilians in remote areas and cities far from the front at deadly risk, leaving large swathes of the country under constant threat of shelling.
The field context and the diplomatic setbacks
This human rights report coincides with significant political and military complexities; analyses based on data from the American Institute for the Study of War indicate that Russian forces have made more field gains during the past year than at any time before, with the exception of the first weeks of the invasion in 2022. This progress is attributed to the Russian numerical and equipment superiority in contrast to the severe shortage of ammunition and air defense systems suffered by Ukrainian forces.
On the diplomatic front, the prospects appear bleak at present, as US-led efforts to end the war have stalled. Moscow recently rejected a draft plan proposing the deployment of European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine immediately after a ceasefire, indicating the Kremlin's insistence on achieving its military objectives before engaging in any political settlements.
Hidden losses and ongoing tragedy
Although the United Nations has verified the deaths of approximately 15,000 civilians since the start of the war, the report asserts that the true figures are “much higher.” This is due to the impossibility of accessing areas under Russian control to conduct an accurate and independent count. The port city of Mariupol remains the most prominent example of this information gap, where unofficial estimates suggest that thousands were killed during the suffocating siege the city endured at the beginning of the war, though these deaths have not yet been officially documented.
The continuation of this conflict for the fourth year in a row without any prospect of a solution places grave responsibilities on the international community, as the repercussions of the war extend beyond the Ukrainian borders to affect regional stability and global food security, amid fears that continued escalation and the use of advanced weapons will lead to greater humanitarian disasters in the near future.
