UN: Russian attacks in Ukraine are 1.5 times deadlier than last year
Photo: Russians hit a residential building in Kyiv (Vitaliy Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The number of Ukrainians killed and injured in the first five months of 2025 has increased by 1.5 times compared to the same period in 2024. Russian attacks have become significantly more lethal, according to a report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).
"Ballistic missiles, when used in densely populated areas, cause predictable and widespread harm to civilians, as demonstrated by these recent attacks," Danielle Bell, head of the HRMMU, said.
She added that the timing of Russia's attacks underscores an apparent intent to inflict maximum harm on the civilian population. This was particularly evident in the June 23 strike on a lyceum in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Odesa region, and the June 24 attack on the city of Dnipro.
Both attacks were carried out during daylight hours, killing at least 24 people and injuring over 300. UN mission representatives found no evidence of military presence at the lyceum when inspecting the strike site.
Such attacks targeting schools, residential buildings, or medical facilities are considered war crimes under international law.
Deadliest child killing since the start of the war
In April, Russian forces launched a ballistic missile armed with cluster munitions at Kryvyi Rih, targeting a densely populated residential area.
The missile exploded near a children's playground. As a result of this Russian attack, nine children were killed.
Later, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk noted that this strike has become the deadliest attack on minors since the start of the war.
