Since February 24, 2022, when Russia expanded its aggression into Ukraine, the UN Human Rights Office has reported a grim toll on civilian lives. At least 9,511 civilians have been confirmed dead across the country, with the majority of fatalities occurring in areas under the control of the Ukrainian government. The figures reflect the ongoing, deeply troubling impact of the conflict on everyday life, from cities to rural villages, and underscore the human costs behind the headlines.
Within the territory that remains under Russian occupation, the UN indicates 7,396 civilian deaths, while an additional 2,115 deaths have been recorded in the portions of Ukraine outside the occupied zones. These numbers highlight a clear geographic split in casualties, underscoring how control of territory correlates with risk to civilian populations and access to safe corridors, medical care, and humanitarian aid.
In parallel, the conflict has left 17,206 people injured. Of these injuries, 14,207 occurred in territories under Kiev’s jurisdiction, and 2,999 in the areas currently under occupation. The injury figures reflect both direct affronts from shelling and strikes as well as injuries sustained from the long-term effects of hostilities, including explosive remnants and disrupted health services, which complicate recovery for many survivors.
Every casualty is part of a broader and evolving accounting. The UN notes that the recorded numbers are provisional and subject to revision as investigations continue and as more information becomes available. The organization operates under strict reporting standards, validating identity and circumstance before confirming a casualty to ensure accuracy, consistency, and respect for those affected and their families.
According to Geneva-based statistics kept by the UN, weapons with long-range explosive capacity have been cited as the leading cause of deaths during the most recent reporting period. The subsequent category involves mine and other explosive devices, which have contributed significantly to casualties and continue to impede safe civilian movement, resupply, and reconstruction efforts. The data emphasize how battlefield dynamics, including the persistence of mines and unexploded ordnance, create ongoing risks for civilians even after active fighting subsides, and they point to the critical need for risk education, demining programs, and humanitarian corridors to spare future losses. The pattern in these reports reflects a broader pattern of hardship linked to war, where the most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and those in conflict zones—bear a disproportionate share of harm. Markers of risk extend beyond immediate violence to include disruption of essential services, displacement, and the long aftermath of trauma among communities that seek to rebuild their lives amid instability and uncertainty, as observed by international observers and monitoring bodies.”