«Behind every figure and fact in this report are stories of human loss and suffering.» UN report on Ukraine: over 570 civilian deaths documented in three months Peace and Security
Almost three years after Russia launched a full-scale military attack on Ukraine, the human rights situation remains dire. The number of civilian casualties is rising, executions and torture of prisoners of war continue, and efforts are being made to strengthen Russian control over the occupied Ukrainian territories. This is stated in a report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, prepared by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).
The report, covering the period September to November 2024, details conflict-related human rights violations, including Russian attacks on populated areas, targeted attacks on energy infrastructure, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms.
Civilian Deaths
“Behind every figure and fact in this report are stories of loss and suffering, reflecting the devastating impact of the war on the entire population of Ukraine,” said Danielle Bell, Head of the HRMMU. “September was the month with the highest number of casualties since July 2022. Over three months, our team documented 574 civilian deaths and 3,032 injuries.”
The vast majority of casualties – 93 percent – were recorded in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government, particularly in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kherson regions, where military activity remains most intense.
In Kharkiv and Sumy, airstrikes killed 108 civilians and wounded 755. On November 7, shelling of residential areas in Zaporizhia killed nine people and wounded 42. Short-range drones armed with explosive devices killed 67 people and wounded 528 when they attacked civilian vehicles, including humanitarian convoys.
On November 17 and 28, Russian forces launched coordinated large-scale air attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, further reducing its capacity ahead of winter. These attacks disrupted electricity supplies and the services that depend on them, including water, heating, and transportation.
Executions and Torture of Prisoners of War
The report describes ongoing executions, torture and ill-treatment of prisoners of war. Since August 2024, there has been a significant increase in credible reports of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war, with at least 62 victims in 19 incidents.
Cases of torture and ill-treatment of Russian prisoners of war by the Ukrainian authorities have also been documented, mainly in transit centres during the early stages of their detention. OHCHR is investigating two credible reports of deaths of Russian prisoners of war in similar circumstances.
Violations of International Law
According to the authors of the report, Russia continues to tighten its control over the occupied territories through the introduction of Russian laws, in violation of international humanitarian law. The occupation authorities require residents to obtain Russian citizenship in order to preserve their property rights.
The report also points to restrictions on religious freedoms both in the occupied territories and in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government. The new legislative provisions, as the authors of the report note, raise concerns due to their inconsistency with international law.
“The armed attack on Ukraine has been ongoing for almost three years. In the context of such enormous suffering, it is imperative to step up efforts to comply with international humanitarian law aimed at protecting people from violence and harm,” Danielle Bell emphasized.