UN sounds alarm as civilian deaths in Ukraine rise by one-third
Photo: The vast majority of civilians died near the front line (Getty Images)
The number of civilian casualties in Ukraine's war has increased by one-third this year, according to data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission.
The total number of civilian victims from January to September 2025 is 31% higher than during the same period last year.
Last month, at least 214 civilians were killed and 916 were injured — roughly the same as in August 2025.
97% of the victims in September were recorded in areas controlled by Kyiv. Civilian deaths and injuries occurred across 16 regions of Ukraine and in the capital. Most casualties (69%) were near the front line, mainly in the Donetsk and Kherson regions.
Short-range drones, primarily FPV drones, remain the leading cause of civilian deaths (29%) near the front line.
Missile and loitering munition attacks by Russia accounted for about 30% of total civilian casualties. Such strikes are particularly dangerous for civilians in major cities.
As reported earlier, during a massive attack on Ukraine on Thursday, October 16, Russian forces struck the territory of one of the Ukrainian Ground Forces' training units with ballistic missiles, causing deaths and injuries.
Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian military training facilities and grounds used to prepare Ukrainian defenders.
In particular, on June 22, Russian forces hit a training range belonging to one of the Ukrainian Ground Forces brigades, resulting in deaths and injuries.
On September 24, the enemy used Iskander missiles to attack another training facility of the Ground Forces, leading to further casualties among personnel.
