Ukrainian Civilian Casualties Surge 26% in 2025 Amid Intensified Russian Strikes
Civilian casualties in Ukraine caused by explosive violence soared by 26% during 2025, according to a report from the global conflict monitoring group Action on Armed Violence (AOAV). The research indicates that this sharp increase reflects heightened Russian military targeting of urban centres and critical infrastructure across the country.
Staggering Statistics and Devastating Incidents
AOAV's data, compiled from English-language media reports, shows that 2,248 civilians were reported killed and 12,493 injured in Ukraine last year. On average, each Russian strike resulted in 4.8 civilians killed or injured, a 33% rise from the previous year. The most severe attack occurred in Dnipro on 24 June, where Russian missiles struck a passenger train, residential apartments, and schools, killing 21 people and injuring 314, including 38 children.
Iain Overton, executive director of AOAV, stated that these figures demonstrate "Ukraine fits a wider collapse of restraint that is now visible across multiple wars". He emphasised that respect for the principles of distinction and proportionality in warfare "has broken", noting that deliberately targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure excessively is a war crime.
Global Context and Erosion of International Norms
Overton argued that this erosion of restraint has unfolded over years, from conflicts in Homs and Aleppo to Mariupol and Gaza. He expressed concern that "there is no longer a functioning international rules-based order capable of ever holding those responsible to account". In Ukraine, missile and drone attacks occurred almost nightly throughout 2025 and into 2026, severely disrupting access to electricity, heating, and water for millions. The largest recorded air raid took place on 9 September, with 805 drones and 13 missiles targeting Ukraine.
Globally, AOAV recorded 45,358 civilian casualties in 2025, down 26% from a ten-year high in 2024, largely due to an October ceasefire in Gaza. However, the report highlights undercounts, as English-language press reports are incomplete. For instance, in Gaza, AOAV recorded 14,024 civilian casualties in 2025, 40% lower than 2024, but local health authorities reported 25,718 killed and 62,854 injured, indicating a significant gap.
Leading Perpetrators and Regional Conflicts
According to AOAV, Israel was marginally ahead of Russia as the country responsible for the most civilian casualties by explosive violence in 2025, causing 35% of all reported casualties compared to Russia's 32%. This reflects Israel's involvement in multiple conflicts. Wars in Sudan and Myanmar followed, with recorded casualty numbers of 5,438 and 3,178 respectively.
Overton concluded, "Across Ukraine, Myanmar, Gaza and Sudan, the message is the same. When impunity becomes normalised, war crimes stop being shocking exceptions and begin to resemble a method of warfare." The research underscores a troubling trend where civilian suffering is increasingly becoming a standard feature in modern conflicts.
