Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine: 1 March to 31 May 2024

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and subsequent hostilities continued to have a devastating impact on the civilian population in the period between 1 March and 31 May 2024.

Intensified military operations by Russian armed forces seeking to capture further Ukrainian territory resulted in increased civilian casualties and damage to civilian property and infrastructure, particularly near the frontline. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documented that the cross-border offensive by Russian armed forces in Kharkiv region alone resulted in 78 civilians killed and 305 injured between 10 and 31 May. Increased use of powerful air-dropped bombs with a larger range by Russian armed forces was a significant reason for the rise in civilian casualties and massive destruction of civilian infrastructure in frontline communities.