More civilians died in Ukraine during 2025 as a result of Russian attacks than in any of the previous three years of the conflict, according to United Nations human rights monitors. Russian bombardments and attacks claimed over 2,500 civilian lives and injured more than 12,000 others last year – a 31 percent surge from 2024 and a 70 percent jump from 2023.
“There were more civilians killed and injured in 2025 than in the previous three years,” Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, who heads the UN refugee agency’s (UNHCR) division in Ukraine, told EUobserver earlier this week. She noted that Ukraine experienced only four days out of 365 last year without any Russian aerial bombardments.
Castel-Hollingsworth, who oversees 320 staff based across Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Lviv and Odesa, said Russia continues to target essential infrastructure and civilian facilities, including schools, kindergartens, and hospitals.
As Russia’s invasion approaches its fifth year, Castel-Hollingsworth is appealing for sustained international attention and support, warning against donor fatigue. The UNHCR assisted some 1.2 million people in Ukraine last year, despite facing budget constraints.
Government figures indicate approximately 150,000 people were newly internally displaced within Ukraine in 2025. This figure represents only those who formally registered, and likely underestimates the true number of those displaced, particularly those fleeing near the frontlines without registering.
A significant proportion of those displaced are elderly individuals and people with disabilities, representing approximately 40 percent of those who fled their homes. Castel-Hollingsworth noted this trend has persisted since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The European Commission has provided approximately €1.3 billion in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2022, with an additional €145 million in the pipeline and a further €100 million earmarked for repairs in the hardest-hit regions.
Despite the ongoing conflict, approximately 1.4 million Ukrainian refugees have returned home, the majority of these returns occurring in 2022 and continuing into 2023. However, recent return patterns indicate many Ukrainians are only returning briefly to check on family or property before leaving again.
The future status of Ukrainian refugees throughout the European Union remains a concern. The EU’s temporary protection directive, established following the invasion, is currently in place until March 2027. Beyond that date, the fate of many refugees remains uncertain if the war continues.
The Council of the European Union last year recommended a transition away from temporary protection, exploring pathways for Ukrainians to either return home or secure resident status within the EU. Germany is utilizing employment as a pathway to permanent residency for some Ukrainian refugees, but securing work remains a challenge for many.
Castel-Hollingsworth is urging EU member states to coordinate their approaches to future status agreements for Ukrainian refugees before the March 2027 deadline. “For as long as the war is not ending, it will be critical for countries to continue protecting Ukrainian refugees,” she said.
The UN General Assembly adopted two resolutions on February 24, 2025, calling for an end to the war in Ukraine, the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The United States voted against a European-backed resolution urging Russia’s withdrawal, whereas abstaining on its own resolution after amendments were added. The Security Council passed the US-drafted resolution, the first to do so since the invasion began in 2022, though the UK and France abstained from the vote.