Türk Warns of Escalating Civilian Toll in Ukraine War

Much of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Region lies in ruins following attacks earlier in the year.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned on Friday that the war in Ukraine “has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals and shelters.”

The full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022 and “this year has seen intense attacks along the frontline and massive airstrikes, largely in populated areas,” he told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“In some towns in frontline communities, nearly all the housing has been damaged or destroyed.”

On 6 September, Russia reportedly launched the largest air attack of the war, deploying 823 munitions across Ukraine overnight, including 810 long-range drones and 13 missiles.

“Harm to Ukrainian civilians has risen sharply, with total casualties in the first eight months of the year increasing by 40 percent compared to 2024. In July, we documented the highest number of civilian casualties in a month in more than three years,” he said.

The High Commissioner’s Office (OHCHR) has documented more than 50,000 civilians killed and injured, including over 3,000 children, since the war began. Continued attacks on power stations, gas facilities, bridges, railways and other critical infrastructure disrupt daily life and essential services, he added.

Vulnerable groups, including children, older people and persons with disabilities, are the most affected, and “the onset of winter will only make their living conditions worse.”

Although Russia has reported civilian casualties at much lower levels from alleged Ukrainian attacks, OHCHR has not been able to verify the figures.

Meanwhile, Russia has detained large numbers of both Ukrainian civilians and military personnel. An OHCHR report last week detailed violations inflicted on civilian detainees.

“In many cases, people in occupied territory have been arbitrarily seized from the street and held for weeks, months or even years. In a significant number of cases, these detentions may amount to enforced disappearances,” Türk said.

OHCHR has recorded 90 extrajudicial executions of Ukrainian civilians detained by Russian authorities, along with 38 deaths in custody caused by torture, lack of medical care or poor conditions.

“We also documented patterns of widespread, systematic torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, against Ukrainian civilian detainees. My staff had already recorded these same violations against Ukrainian prisoners of war,” he said.

Amendments to Russian law have entrenched impunity for military personnel, enabling executions, torture and ill-treatment to go unpunished.

OHCHR also recorded cases of Ukrainian authorities torturing or mistreating detainees linked to the conflict, including cases of sexual violence, many from 2022. Türk noted that Ukraine has taken steps to strengthen safeguards and improve detention conditions, but accountability remains limited.

“The Russian authorities continue to perpetrate widespread and systematic violations of human rights against Ukrainian civilians in occupied territories,” Türk said.

Residents face pressure to obtain Russian citizenship to access basic services, or risk intimidation, deportation and property confiscation. Schools are being forced to adopt Russian curricula with patriotic and military education, while surveillance and censorship have intensified. “These practices reflect a deliberate effort to suppress dissent and Ukrainian identity,” he added.

OHCHR teams continue gathering evidence and documenting alleged violations, having conducted over 400 interviews in 17 places of detention under Ukrainian control, and 216 interviews with released detainees from Russian-occupied territory.

Türk called on Russia to halt extrajudicial executions, torture, mistreatment and sexual violence against detainees, and to end arbitrary detention practices. He urged Ukraine to respect its international obligations by protecting detainees from abuse.

He also called for prompt, independent investigations into all allegations of violations and accountability for perpetrators.

“This war needs to end. The human toll on civilians, and on soldiers and their families, is staggering and heartbreaking,” he said.

“Recent reports that Russian drones have been seen in countries neighbouring Ukraine remind us of the dangers this war poses across the region and beyond. Every day the violence continues, the risks of escalation and expansion grow.”