Russia’s Attacks on Ukrainian Civilians Rising, HRW Finds
The number of Ukrainian civilians killed or injured in Russian attacks has increased in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported, calling on governments involved in negotiations with Moscow to press for adherence to international humanitarian law, The Gaze reports.
“These attacks are killing and injuring more civilians, including women and children, even as global leaders express horror at the mounting toll,” said Belkis Wille, Associate Director of HRW’s Crisis and Conflict Division. “Negotiators must demand an immediate halt to strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
Between February and April, HRW documented four major Russian attacks that killed at least 47 civilians and injured more than 180. The watchdog found that in each case Russia violated international law by launching indiscriminate or disproportionate strikes. Such attacks, if carried out deliberately or recklessly, constitute war crimes.
One of the deadliest assaults occurred on April 4 in Kryvyi Rih, where an airburst explosion over a residential park killed 20 civilians, including nine children, and wounded 73 more. It was the deadliest single attack on children since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
Other deadly attacks included:
• A massive airstrike on a residential building in Poltava on February 1 that killed 15 and wounded 20. The nearest military target was over 700 meters away.
• A February 4 missile strike on Izyum’s city council building, killing six and injuring 57, including three children.
• A March 5 missile that hit the Central Hotel in Kryvyi Rih, killing six civilians and wounding 31 others. HRW found no evidence of military presence at the hotel, contrary to Russian claims that it was used by foreign fighters.
HRW stressed that diplomatic efforts must prioritize justice and civilian protection. “There must be no amnesty for those responsible for serious violations,” Wille said. “Negotiators must support continued investigations and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
As The Gaze reported earlier, the recent Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, a city in eastern Ukraine, has been identified as the deadliest attack for children in the past three years of war against Ukraine, according to UN representatives.