Civilian casualties in Ukraine surged by 26% in 2025, as Russian military operations increasingly targeted urban areas and critical infrastructure, according to a global conflict monitoring group. Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) reported that 2,248 civilians were killed and 12,493 injured due to explosive violence in Ukraine, based on English-language media reports.

The average number of civilians killed or injured per incident rose to 4.8, marking a 33% increase from 2024. One of the deadliest attacks occurred in Dnipro on June 24, when Russian missiles struck a passenger train, residential buildings, and schools, resulting in 21 deaths and 314 injuries, including 38 children.

Iain Overton, AOAV’s executive director, highlighted that Ukraine exemplifies a broader erosion of restraint in warfare, where the principle of proportionality is increasingly disregarded. This trend is evident in multiple conflicts, including those in Gaza, Sudan, and Congo. Overton expressed concern over the diminishing effectiveness of international rules in holding perpetrators accountable.

Throughout 2025, Ukraine experienced frequent missile and drone attacks, which persisted into 2026, severely affecting access to essential services like electricity, heating, and water. On September 9, Ukraine faced the largest air raid of the conflict, with 805 drones and 13 missiles launched in a single night.

AOAV’s monitoring of civilian casualties relies on English-language reports, which may underrepresent the actual figures due to language limitations. Globally, civilian casualties decreased by 26% from a decade-high in 2024, largely due to a ceasefire in Gaza. However, the situation in Gaza remained dire, with 14,024 civilian casualties recorded in 2025, a 40% reduction from the previous year.

Israel’s military acknowledged the accuracy of Gaza’s death toll, with 70,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023, according to the Gaza health ministry. In 2025 alone, 25,718 Palestinians were reported killed, and 62,854 injured.

Worldwide, AOAV recorded 45,358 civilian casualties in 2025, down from 61,353 in 2024. Israel was responsible for the highest number of casualties, slightly surpassing Russia. Conflicts in Sudan and Myanmar also contributed significantly to global casualty figures.

Overton concluded that the normalization of impunity in conflicts across Ukraine, Myanmar, Gaza, and Sudan has led to war crimes becoming a standard method of warfare rather than isolated incidents.

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