UN: large-scale strikes drive sharp rise in civilian casualties in Ukraine
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Summary
The UN says overnight nationwide strikes attributed to the Russian Federation killed and injured civilians, damaged residential buildings and health infrastructure, and that civilian casualties from January–October rose nearly 30% over the same period last year.
The United Nations condemned a large-scale overnight attack across Ukraine that caused civilian deaths, injuries and damage to residential and health infrastructure, the UN spokesperson told reporters. "The secretary-general joins the humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine in condemning this attack," Stefan Dujarric said.
Dujarric cited the UN human rights monitoring mission’s data showing civilian casualties between January and October were nearly 30% higher than during the same period last year, and that the toll for the first 10 months of 2025 already exceeded the total for all of 2024. Parts of Kyiv were left without heating following strikes, he added.
UN agencies and partner NGOs mobilized to assist the impacted population with hot meals, emergency shelter materials, blankets, hygiene items and psychosocial support in Kyiv and elsewhere. When asked whether Israel had given reasons for the Rafah crossing remaining closed, Dujarric replied the question should be directed to Israeli and Egyptian authorities; on a separate maritime incident he said he hoped a tanker seized in the Strait of Hormuz would be released "as quickly as possible."