“Our findings highlight several worrying trends: increasing civilian casualties on the front lines and in urban areas, sustained attacks on energy infrastructure, and the persistence of systematic and widespread torture and mistreatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees,” said Danielle Bell, head of the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).
Russia launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and the report covers the period from June 1 to November 30, 2025.
Increase in the number of civilian casualties
He reveals that civilian casualties increased both on the front line and in urban areas, with July marking the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries since April 2022.
A total of 1,420 civilians were killed and 6,545 injured during the reporting period, an increase of 12 percent from the same period a year earlier and almost 40 percent from the previous six months.
The victims included 61 medical workers, 99 emergency services personnel, six media workers and 13 aid workers.
Western Ukraine also saw its deadliest attack since the invasion began, when a large-scale combined drone-missile strike killed at least 36 civilians in Ternopil on November 19.
Deteriorating conditions on the front
Frontline regions experienced a serious deterioration in living conditions as short-range drones, aerial bombs and other munitions caused significant damage to residential buildings and other vital civilian infrastructure. Some areas have become uninhabitable, forcing residents to seek refuge elsewhere.
Additionally, many hospitals and clinics in frontline towns have been destroyed or forced to close, leaving residents without access to basic health care.
This situation was aggravated by water, heating and electricity outages, which particularly affected the elderly and people with disabilities.
Damage to Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure has led to disruptions in essential services such as electricity, heating and water supply. (deposit)
An energy network under attack
In October and November, Russia launched eight coordinated waves of large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy system, causing emergency power outages and daily blackouts in several regions.
Scheduled power outages lasted up to 18 hours per day, with interruptions to water and heating services lasting several hours or even days in some areas.
Record exchange of prisoners
Ukraine and Russia also carried out the largest exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) since 2022, with both sides freeing more than 3,000 people. However, HRMMU has not observed any improvement in the treatment of internees.
“The systematic and widespread torture and mistreatment of prisoners of war is one of the most shocking and pervasive features of this war.“, remarked Ms. Bell.
A Ukrainian prisoner of war has described how he was treated in a pre-trial detention center in Russia.
“During my entire stay in the facility, we were beaten almost every day. The guards beat us almost every time we left the cell for an inspection or to go to the medical unit or take a shower,” he told investigators.
“Many times I was beaten so badly that my body hurt for weeks. »
Russia recently released 187 Ukrainian prisoners of war and “185 reported severe beatings, stressful positions, electric shocks, choking, dog attacks and, in many cases, sexual violence,” Bell said.
“Those interviewed also described harsh detention conditions, limited medical care and violence that occurred during capture, transfer, admission to new facilities and throughout internment,” she added.
The observers also questioned 137 prisoners of war held by Ukraine, including 10 third-country nationals. More than half reported torture and ill-treatment during interrogations or transfers before arriving at official internment centers.
“I didn’t know anything, but they continued to torture me even more,” a Russian prisoner of war said of his experience during interrogation at a transit point.
The report also notes an increase in extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war. At least four incidents involving the killing of 10 Ukrainian servicemen after their capture by Russian forces have been deemed credible.
Four executions of Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian armed forces have also been recorded, along with credible allegations of three other incidents currently under investigation.
Life under occupation
Meanwhile, authorities in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory continued to impose measures in violation of international humanitarian law, with even more severe restrictions on freedom of movement, expression, religion and access to independent information.
In March, Russia issued a decree setting September 10 as the deadline for Ukrainian citizens in these regions to obtain a Russian passport, residence permit or other document to “legalize” their stay under penalty of deportation.
Arbitrary arrests, prosecutions for criticism of the “special military operation”, the use of forced confessions and the retroactive application of criminal laws.
The report highlights the continued efforts of Ukrainian authorities and humanitarian organizations to support civilians, including by carrying out large-scale evacuations, establishing transit centers and providing medical, psychosocial and legal assistance.
This is happening despite extremely difficult and increasingly dangerous conditions, including attacks on humanitarian workers.
We acknowledge The European Times for the information.
