Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict — October 2023

Summary

• The number of civilian casualties remained high in October, with 605 civilians killed or injured.
• Most civilian casualties (92 per cent) continued to occur in the Government-controlled territory.
• The majority of civilian casualties continued to occur in areas near the frontlines as a result of shelling and multiple-launch rocket system attacks. The month of October saw an 11 per cent decrease in the number of civilian casualties compared to September, showing a continued gradual decline in 2023.
• On 5 October, Russian armed forces launched a missile against a funeral reception in Hroza, Kharkiv oblast, killing 59 civilians. The attack was the deadliest in 2023 in terms of civilian casualties and constituted 33 per cent of civilians killed in October.