OSCE Report: Civilian Casualties in Ukraine Rise Over 50% Amid Russian Strikes
The number of confirmed civilian casualties in government-controlled areas of Ukraine rose by more than 50% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, largely due to Russia’s ongoing use of wide-impact explosive weapons in densely populated areas.
The Gaze reports this, referring to a new report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The seventh ODIHR monitoring report details violations of international humanitarian law committed by Russian forces from December 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025.
It highlights Russia’s continued deployment of indiscriminate explosive weaponry in civilian zones, violating the core principles of distinction and proportionality under international humanitarian law.
“Russian military operations have intensified, with increased strikes targeting civilians and critical infrastructure, significantly worsening the humanitarian situation and triggering large-scale displacement from frontline communities,” the report states.
ODIHR also documented testimonies from victims, families, and legal representatives of individuals who were arbitrarily detained or forcibly disappeared in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
These accounts reaffirm patterns previously reported, including the unlawful nature of detentions, systemic denial of due process, and isolation from the outside world.
Moreover, newly gathered evidence confirms the widespread and systematic use of torture against detained Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war by Russian authorities.
The OSCE body also collected additional witness statements indicating deliberate attempts by Russian authorities to alter the legal and demographic character of occupied territories.
Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, Yuriy Vitrenko, thanked ODIHR for its comprehensive report during a meeting of the OSCE Human Dimension Committee.
He emphasized that both ODIHR’s ongoing documentation and the OSCE’s "Moscow Mechanism" form a critical part of global efforts to hold Russia accountable.
“We firmly believe that recording and exposing the crimes committed by Russia in its war of aggression is essential. All those responsible for orchestrating and executing war crimes and crimes against humanity must ultimately face justice,” Vitrenko said.
As The Gaze reported earlier, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine noted that June 2025 marked the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians in three years, with 232 people killed and over 1,300 injured.