Civilian Harm and Human Rights Abuses Persist in Ukraine as War Enters Fourth Year

“Three years of full-scale conflict in Ukraine have wrought persistent and escalating human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law,” said Danielle Bell, Chief of HRMMU. “As the civilian toll grows heavier, the human rights of all those affected must remain at the forefront of  any negotiations for sustainable peace.”

More than 12,654 civilian men, women, girls, and boys have been killed, and over 29,392 injured since 24 February 2022, as verified by HRMMU. Eighty-four per cent of the casualties have occurred in territory controlled by the government of Ukraine, and 16 per cent in territory occupied by the Russian Federation.

Civilian casualties rose by 30 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023 as hostilities again intensified on the frontline, and the Russian Federation increased its use of aerial bombs, short-range drones, long-range missiles and loitering munitions. Landmines and explosive remnants of war now contaminate an estimated 139,000 square kilometers in Ukraine, posing serious risks to civilians now and in the future.

Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has come under 14 large-scale, coordinated attacks since last March alone, creating a serious electricity deficit, and intensifying the difficulties in providing education, healthcare, heating supply, and water distribution. In 2024, at least 306 attacks damaged or destroyed medical facilities – a threefold increase from 2023 – while at least 576 attacks affected educational facilities, nearly double the previous year.

“Civilians face constant and compounding harm as the conflict continues,” said Ms. Bell. “The large-scale use of explosive weapons in populated areas has not only killed and injured civilians across Ukraine, but it has also displaced millions who have fled violence and disrupted  basic services essential to civilian life and well-being.”

HRMMU continues to document serious violations against military personnel, including executions, torture, sexual violence, and other inhumane and degrading acts. Since August 2024, HRMMU has recorded an alarming spike in reported executions of captured Ukrainian soldiers by Russian armed forces, involving credible allegations of 81 Ukrainian soldiers executed during that period. HRMMU documented one instance during this same reporting period of a member of the Ukrainian armed forces executing a Russian soldier.

Since 2022, Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) have been subjected to widespread and systematic acts of torture, including sexual violence. Ninety-five per cent of released Ukrainian POWs interviewed by HRMMU have provided accounts of torture or ill-treatment during interrogation and throughout their time in Russian captivity. Approximately half of the Russian POWs interviewed by HRMMU have also described acts of torture or ill-treatment, mostly during the initial stages of captivity before reaching places of internment.

At least 170 civilians have been executed in areas controlled by Russian authorities, including in places of detention. Further, around three-quarters of released civilian detainees interviewed by HRMMU have recounted acts of torture and ill-treatment. 

In areas under occupation by Russian authorities, violations of international law have touched nearly all aspects of civilian life. Residents have been forced to obtain Russian citizenship, as Russian governance and systems have been imposed. Civilians seeking access to healthcare, property, jobs, and social security are increasingly required to provide Russian passports. Children in particular have been subjected to militarized and patriotic education aimed at instilling loyalty to the Russian Federation, despite the obligations of the Russian Federation as an occupying power.