Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict — December 2024

Summary

• At least 105 civilians were killed and 514 injured in Ukraine in December, making it the month with the lowest number of civilians killed since the full-scale invasion.

• The vast majority of civilian casualties (93 per cent) and damage to educational and health facilities (86 per cent) occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine.

• The majority of casualties (78 per cent) occurred near the frontline, with the highest numbers in Kherson and Donetsk regions. Almost half of the frontline casualties were caused by attacks with short-range drones.

• Twenty per cent of the casualties resulted from the use of long-range weapons (missiles and loitering munitions) launched by Russian armed forces. Civilian casualties from missiles and loitering munitions were recorded in eight regions of Ukraine.

• Russian armed forces conducted two large-scale, coordinated attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, damaging at least 13 electricity and heat generation, as well as distribution facilities in nine regions. The attacks resulted in emergency power outages in many regions and the resumption of daily scheduled power outages across the country.