Ukraine: Civilian casualties - 24 February 2022 to 30 June 2023

1. Total civilian casualties

From 24 February 2022, which marked the start of the large-scale armed attack by the Russian Federation, to 30 June 2023, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has recorded 25,170 civilian casualties in 1,504 settlements of Ukraine, including 9,177 killed and 15,993 injured.^[1] Of those casualties, among adults whose sex was known, men comprised 61 per cent and women comprised 39 per cent. Of those casualties among children whose sex was known, boys comprised 57.2 per cent, and girls comprised 42.8 per cent.

OHCHR has also received information regarding 22 civilian casualties, with 6 killed (5 men and 1 woman) and 16 injured (2 children and 14 adults, whose sex is yet unknown), in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine (hereinafter Crimea), occupied by the Russian Federation.^[2]

Actual numbers of civilian casualties are considerably higher, as many reports of individual civilian casualties in certain locations are still pending corroboration. Such locations include Mariupol (Donetsk region), and Lysychansk, Popasna, and Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk region).

OHCHR has also received information regarding 287 civilian casualties, with 58 killed (30 men, 21 women, 2 boys, 1 girl, as well as 4 adults, whose sex is yet unknown) and 229 injured (86 men, 51 women, 11 boys, 4 girls, as well as 4 children, and 73 adults, whose sex is yet unknown), in the territory of the Russian Federation.^[3]

The regions with the highest numbers of civilian casualties have been: Donetska, Kharkivska, Kyivska, Khersonska, and Luhanska oblasts.

The highest monthly numbers of civilian casuaties occurred in March and April 2022. The numbers then decreased gradually, reaching their lowest level in February 2023. In the first four months of 2023, the average number of civilian casualties per month was 696 casualties; however, in May-June 2023, the average number of civilian casualties increased to 836.

2. Civilian casualties caused by explosive weapons with wide area effects

From 24 February 2022 to 30 June 2023, OHCHR recorded 22,784 civilian casualties caused by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects: 7,653 killed and 15,131 injured. They account for 90.5 per cent of all civilian casualties recorded by OHCHR during that period. Of them, 84.2 per cent were recorded in territory controlled by the Government when they occurred, and 15.8 per cent – in territory occupied by the Russian Federation when casualties occurred. The vast majority of them occurred in populated areas.

3. Civilian casualties caused by mines and explosive remnants of war

From 24 February 2022 to 30 June 2023, OHCHR recorded 905 civilian casualties caused by mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW): 293 killed and 612 injured.

4. Civilian casualties among children

From 24 February 2022 to 30 June 2023, OHCHR recorded 1,630 civilian casualties among children in Ukraine: 535 killed and 1,095 injured. Their actual numbers are considerably higher.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine

Since 2014, OHCHR has been documenting civilian casualties in Ukraine. Reports are based on information that the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) collected through interviews with victims and their relatives; witnesses; analysis of corroborating material confidentially shared with HRMMU; official records; open-source documents, photo and video materials; forensic records and reports; criminal investigation materials; court documents; reports by international and national non-governmental organisations; public reportsby law enforcement and military actors; data from medical facilities and local authorities. All sources and information are assessed for their relevance and credibility and cross-checked against other information. In some instances, corroboration may take time. This may mean that conclusions on civilian casualties may be revised as more information becomes available and numbers may change as new information emerges over time. Statistics presented in the current update are based on individual civilian casualty records where the “reasonable grounds to believe” standard of proof was met, namely where, based on a body of verified information, an ordinarily prudent observer would have reasonable grounds to believe that the casualty took place as described.

^[1] An increase in figures in this update compared with the previous update (as of 18 June 2023) should not be attributed to civilian casualties that occurred from 19 to 30 June only, as during these days OHCHR also corroborated casualties that occurred on previous days. Similarly, not all civilian casualties that were reported from 19 to 30 June have been included into the above figures. Some of them are still pending corroboration and if confirmed, will be reported on in future updates.

^[2] Because of the lack of corroborating information, the reported civilian casualties in Crimea are still pending verification and have not been included in the total civilian casualty figures above.

^[3] Because of the lack of corroborating information, the alleged civilian casualties in the territory of the Russian Federation are still pending verification and have not been included in the total civilian casualty figures above.