Two-year update. Protection of civilians: impact of hostilities on civilians since 24 February 2022

In the two years since, the civilian population in Ukraine has endured immense suffering and harm.

Thousands of civilians have lost their lives or sustained life-changing injuries – or have family members who have done so. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has verified that conflict-related violence in this two-year period killed more than 10,000 civilians and injured nearly 20,000. The actual numbers are likely significantly higher.

Millions across the country have lost their homes, been forced to flee, or endured other hardship due to lack of access to basic services as a result of the war. The hostilities have damaged and destroyed hundreds of medical and educational institutions, with significant impact on children’s access to education and people’s access to health services, and critical infrastructure related to for example energy and grain export, causing hardship, particularly during the winter months, and threatening livelihoods. Entire cities have been destroyed. 

This update summarizes some of the main patterns and trends of civilian harm that HRMMU has identified in the two-year period since 24 February 2022.