UN Reports Latest Count of Civilian Deaths in Ukraine Since Russian Invasion

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia began in February 2022, the United Nations has recorded over 12,300 civilian deaths and more than 27,800 injuries.

These figures were presented by UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, during a UN Security Council meeting on December 20, 2024.

According to Nakamitsu, a significant portion of the civilian casualties were caused by Russia’s use of long-range weaponry. In November 2024, such attacks were responsible for about 42% of the deaths and injuries, a marked increase compared to previous months.

The UN Monitoring Mission on Human Rights in Ukraine also shared updated data for 2024. From January 1 to November 30, airstrike bombings alone resulted in 341 civilian deaths, with 1,803 more individuals injured. These numbers represent a dramatic rise compared to last year, with casualties from airstrikes increasing threefold, and injuries rising sixfold.

The UN continues to track the humanitarian impact of the ongoing war, underscoring the substantial toll on civilian populations across Ukraine.

However, international organizations have limited access to the territories temporarily occupied by Russia, meaning the actual number of casualties is likely to be higher than reported.

In related developments, on December 17, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning human rights violations in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, including the unlawful detention of civilians, torture, and discrimination. The resolution also labeled Russia’s military actions as “an act of aggression against Ukraine.”