UN Reports Over 3,000 Civilian Casualties from Russian Drone Strikes in Ukraine

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reports a significant increase in civilian casualties resulting from Russian military tactics in 2025, with deaths and injuries rising by 1.5 times compared to 2024. Short-range drone attacks, particularly first-person-view (FPV) drones, have caused over 3,000 civilian casualties since February 2022, with the deadliest period occurring in early 2025, severely disrupting daily life in frontline regions. Additionally, ballistic missile strikes on densely populated areas, such as the attacks on a lyceum in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi and the city of Dnipro in June 2025, have resulted in at least 24 deaths and over 300 injuries, including the deadliest attack on children since the war began. These strikes, often conducted during daylight to maximize civilian harm, are considered war crimes under international law. Russian authorities, through spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, have accused Ukrainian forces of committing atrocities in Donbass, including drone strikes on civilians, framing these as deliberate state policies. The UN mission underscores that Russia's attacks are deliberate and foreseeable in their impact on civilians, calling for urgent attention to these ongoing violations.