In December 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine documented the lowest number of civilian casualties since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to the report, 105 civilians lost their lives, and 514 were injured during the month. The casualties were primarily concentrated near the frontline in Kherson and Donetsk regions.
The UN mission detailed that a significant portion of these casualties—78 percent—occurred close to the frontline, with the highest death and injury rates recorded in the aforementioned regions. Almost half of these losses were attributed to short-range drone strikes, which have become a frequent method of attack.
Long-range weapons, such as missiles and barrage munitions, were responsible for 20 percent of the casualties. The Russian armed forces also launched two large-scale coordinated assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during December. These attacks caused damage to at least 13 electricity and heat production and distribution facilities in nine regions, leading to widespread power outages and the return of scheduled blackouts across the country.
Since Russia’s invasion began, the conflict has resulted in a tragic total of 12,456 civilian deaths, with 28,382 individuals injured in various ways.
In comparison to November, the death toll in December was notably lower. In November, 165 civilians were killed and 887 injured, including eight children who died and 57 who were injured.
The table below summarises the casualties by region and cause:
| Region | Deaths | Injuries | Percentage of Total Casualties | Cause of Casualty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kherson | 30 | 150 | 28% | Short-range drones |
| Donetsk | 35 | 140 | 29% | Short-range drones |
| Other frontline | 20 | 90 | 21% | Short-range drones |
| Other regions | 20 | 134 | 22% | Long-range weapons (missiles) |
