Russia launched its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and the report covers the period from June 1 to November 30, 2025.
Increase in civilian casualties
Reveals that Civilian casualties increased both on the front line and in urban areas, with July marking the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries since April 2022..
A total of 1,420 civilians were killed and 6,545 injured during the reporting period – a 12 percent increase from the same period last year and a nearly 40 percent increase from the previous six months.
The victims included 61 medical workers, 99 emergency services personnel, six media professionals and 13 aid workers.
Western Ukraine also experienced its deadliest attack since the invasion began, when a large-scale combined drone and missile attack killed at least 36 civilians in Ternopil on November 19.
Deteriorating conditions on the front
Frontline regions have experienced a serious deterioration in living conditions, as short-range drones, aerial bombs and other munitions caused extensive damage to residential buildings and other vital civilian infrastructure. Some areas were left uninhabitable, forcing residents to seek shelter elsewhere.
Additionally, many hospitals and clinics in frontline cities were destroyed or forced to close, leaving residents without access to basic medical care.
Added to this was the interruption of the supply of water, heating and electricity, which especially affected the elderly and people with disabilities.
Damage to Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure has caused disruptions to essential services such as electricity, heating and water supply. (archive)
Power grid attacked
During October and November, Russia launched eight large-scale coordinated waves of missile and drone attacks against Ukraine’s energy system, causing emergency power outages and daily electricity outages in multiple regions.
Scheduled power outages lasted up to 18 hours per day, with water and heating services interrupted for many hours or days in some areas.
Record prisoner exchange
Ukraine and Russia also carried out the largest prisoner of war (POW) exchange since 2022, with the sides freeing more than 3,000 people. However, HRMMU did not see improvements in the treatment of boarding schools.
“The systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of prisoners of war is one of the most shocking and widespread features of this war.” Ms. Bell commented.
A Ukrainian prisoner of war has spoken about how he was treated in a pre-trial detention center in Russia.
“The entire time I was in the center, we were beaten almost every day. The guards beat us almost every time we left the cell for an inspection or to go to the medical unit or to take a shower,” he told investigators.
“Several times they beat me so badly that my body hurt for weeks.”
Limited attention, extrajudicial executions
Russia recently released 187 Ukrainian prisoners of war and “185 provided accounts of severe beatings, forced positions, electric shocks, suffocation, dog attacks and, in many cases, sexual violence,” Bell said.
“Interviewees also described harsh detention conditions, limited medical care, and violence that occurred during capture, transfer, admission to new facilities, and during internment,” he added.
Observers also interviewed 137 prisoners of war held in Ukraine, including 10 third-country nationals. More than half reported torture and ill-treatment during interrogation or transfer, before reaching official detention centers.
“I didn’t know anything, but they tortured me even more,” said a Russian prisoner of war about his experience during interrogation at a transit site.
The report also documents an increase in extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war. At least four incidents involving the deaths of 10 Ukrainian servicemen after their capture by Russian forces were deemed credible.
Four executions of Russian prisoners of war by the Ukrainian military were also recorded, along with credible allegations of three additional incidents that are currently being examined.
Life under occupation
Meanwhile, authorities in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory continued to impose measures that violated international humanitarian law, with increasing restrictions on freedom of movement, expression, religion and access to independent information.
In March, Russia issued a decree setting a September 10 deadline for Ukrainian citizens in these areas to obtain a Russian passport, residence permit or other document to “legalize” their stay or risk deportation.
Patterns of arbitrary detentions, prosecutions for criticism of the “special military operation,” use of forced confessions, and retroactive application of criminal laws.
The report highlights the continued efforts of Ukrainian authorities and humanitarian workers to support civilians, including large-scale evacuations, establishing transit centers and providing medical, psychosocial and legal assistance.
This is happening despite extremely difficult and increasingly dangerous conditions, including attacks on aid workers.