Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 10, 2025 Peace and security
At least 214 civilians were killed and nearly 1,000 wounded across Ukraine in September 2025, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported today. People in frontline areas, particularly women and the elderly, are particularly hard hit.
“The high number of civilian casualties last month confirms a worrying trend this year – hardly a day goes by without civilian deaths or injuries, particularly in frontline areas,” said Head of Mission Danielle Bell.
Victims among the elderly
According to the HRMMU's monthly report, 69 percent of all civilian casualties in September occurred in areas located near the front line, particularly in the Donetsk and Kherson regions. At least 87 of the dead were over 60 years old. Elderly Ukrainians often remain in their hometowns and are hesitant to evacuate.
So, on September 9 as a result Russian attack in Yarovaya, Donetsk region Twenty-five civilians were killed (16 women and nine men) and at least 19 were wounded (13 women and six men). Most of the victims were collecting their pensions at a post office in the city center when the bomb fell nearby: 21 of the dead and 13 of the wounded were over 60 years old.
Strikes on populated areas and infrastructure
The Mission also notes that the main cause of civilian casualties was short-range drone strikes, which accounted for approximately 30 percent of all deaths and injuries in September. Another 30 percent of casualties were caused by long-range missile attacks and loitering munitions launched against Kyiv and 16 other regions of Ukraine, including cities located hundreds of kilometers from the front line. Ninety-seven percent of civilian casualties were recorded in government-controlled areas.
In September, Ukrainian energy infrastructure was attacked At least 31 times. In the Chernihiv region, power grid facilities were attacked at least 12 times, leading to temporary power and water outages, as well as rolling blackouts in October.
Just the previous night, another massive strike on energy facilities resulted in the death of a seven-year-old boy and the injury of 34 people, the Mission said in a statement.
In the first nine months of 2025, the number of civilian deaths and injuries increased by 31 percent compared to the same period last year. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the UN Mission has documented at least 14,383 civilian deaths and 37,541 civilian injuries, including 738 children killed and 2,318 injured.
Ukrainian women at the center of humanitarian efforts
Meanwhile, at a briefing in Geneva today, UN Women representative Sabine Fraser stated that more than three and a half years after the full-scale invasion and eleven years since the conflict began, the war "continues to claim lives, destroy cities, displace millions of people, and turn lands into minefields." Since February 2024, according to the UN agency, at least 4,403 women and 314 girls have died across Ukraine.
Fraser also reported that this morning in Kyiv, after new strikes, people were again left without power and water. Large-scale attacks on energy facilities are becoming more frequent, while people are preparing for a fourth winter of full-scale war. She also noted that attacks on infrastructure and transport have a particularly strong impact on women, as they spend more time at home and use public transport more often.
Read also:
INTERVIEW | UN Women helps Ukrainian women cope with the psychological consequences of war
The UN agency representative emphasized that women not only suffer from war but also play a leading role in humanitarian response and recovery. In Zaporizhzhia, UN Women organized consultations with groups of Ukrainian women whose stories demonstrate strength and resilience. Among them was a combat veteran who, despite her own psychological trauma, fights for the rights of other female soldiers. Also present at the meeting was a displaced woman who opened a scented candle business as a symbol of "warmth and light in the darkness." Thus, Ukrainian women, who themselves need assistance, are playing a leading role in recovery.
Fraser emphasized that less than one percent of reconstruction funds in the country are gender-specific. "Now is the time to support Ukrainian women and girls so they can survive the war with dignity and become leaders capable of building a just and equal future," she stated.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
