Ukraine

25 March 2025

On 24 March 2025, a Russian missile and drone attack on Sumy city injured 106 people, including 23 children, in Sumska oblast. Overall, 73 buildings were damaged, including three schools, a kindergarten, a hospital, and 61 residential units. State responders provided immediate emergency, rescue, and psychological support, followed by the restoration of water and gas supply. The people affected require legal, cash, and shelter assistance. Since late February, heightened hostilities in Kursk oblast in Russia has led to a rise in attacks on the communities along the border with Sumska oblast, resulting in casualties; damage to private homes, transportation, and critical infrastructure; and disruptions to water and power supplies. On 13 March, the authorities of Sumska oblast announced a mandatory evacuation of 543 civilians, including children, from eight communities in the Yunakivska and Myropilska hromadas of Sumskyi raion, which are located within 0–10km of the Russian border. (Sumy City Council 25/03/2025, Ukrinform 13/03/2025, ACLED accessed 25/03/2025)

24 October 2024

The Russian Federation continues to attack the ports in Odeska oblast after withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative on 17 July 2023. A spike in attacks occurred between August–September, following a yearly trend of Russia targeting and damaging grain storage facilities after the harvest season, port infrastructure and vehicles, and foreign vessels. Until 11 October 2024, Russia conducted more than 60 ballistic missile and drone attacks during a three-month period. These attacks resulted in civilian casualties, mainly port and ship employees. Complicated logistics through river ports and railways increase costs, an additional strain on Ukraine’s already weakened economy. (ISW 14/10/2024, Radio Svoboda 11/10/2024, APK-Inform 11/10/2024)

17 September 2024

On 20 August 2024, the authorities announced a mandatory evacuation in Pokrovska hromada, Donetska oblast, as a response to increased hostilities and a shifting front line. Until 12 September, 28,000 people remained living there with no access to essential services. There was no gas supply, and the water pumping station had stopped functioning. The last civilian hospital in Pokrovsk town evacuated on 7 September. (OCHA 12/09/2024, MSF 06/09/2024)

08 July 2024

On 8 July 2024, Russian forces launched a combined missile attack on several Ukrainian cities, killing at least 43 and injuring over 170. 70% of the casualties were in Kyiv city. The attacks also damaged several civilian facilities, including kindergartens, a college, and two hospitals in Dnipro, Kramatorsk, Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv, and Sloviansk cities. The damage to the children’s hospital in Kyiv city has affected critical healthcare access as it was the largest in the country, conducting 7,000 surgeries yearly and providing cancer and haematological treatment. More than 600 patients have had to evacuate, with over 100 transferred to other facilities. Over 90% of civilian casualties and more than 95% of damage to educational and health facilities continue to take place in areas under the control of the Ukrainian Government. (The Kyiv Independent 09/07/2024, CNN 08/07/2024, OHCHR 07/06/2024)

21 May 2024

On 20 May 2024, Ukraine introduced countrywide energy supply restrictions for households and industries as a result of significant power shortage. Widespread Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities between March–May 2024 reduced Ukraine's thermal power generation capacity by 80%. The emergency blackouts are scheduled during late evenings and nights and are likely to last until August. (NYT 20/05/2024, Kyiv Independent 16/05/2024, Reuters 13/05/2024)

14 May 2024

On 10 May 2024, Russian forces launched a cross-border offensive in Kharkivska oblast. Settlements near the border are under increased shelling, especially Vovchansk town. By 15 May, the offensive had killed at least eight civilians and injured 35. An estimated 8,000 people, including more than 600 children, had evacuated from frontline and border hromadas. Over 14,000 people (out of 60,000) were estimated to have fled from Derhachivska, Lypetska, Starosaltivska, Tsyrkunivska, Vovchanska, and Zolochivska hromadas. Humanitarians and volunteers transported 2,100 civilians to Kharkiv city, who registered at the city’s transit centre. Another 1,700 registered after self-evacuating. Needs include hygiene supplies, clothes, bedding, and other everyday items, as well as cash assistance and mental health and psychosocial services. Many, especially older people, waited until the last moment to evacuate and left behind phones and documents. Attacks on critical infrastructure disrupted electricity access for 200,000 families. (OCHA 14/05/2024, OCHA 15/05/2024, IRC 13/05/2024)

02 January 2024

Over 40 people were killed and more than 220 injured in massive Russian airstrikes across Ukraine between 29 December 2023 and 2 January 2024. Among the targeted locations were the cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia, as well as villages and towns in Chernihivska, Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Kharkivska, Khersonska, Sumska, and Zaporizka oblasts. The most affected areas were cities of Kharkiv and Kyiv and frontline communities. Missiles, drones, and associated debris caused damage and destruction to homes, schools, warehouses, and hospitals. The attacks caused further disruption to electricity, water supply, and public transport. Air raid sirens and damage to homes forced hundreds of thousands of people to take shelter or evacuate. In Donetska oblast, where more than 120 localities were already without electricity, damage to a power plant has disrupted electricity production. In Kyiv city and oblast, damage to the overhead line left over 260,000 people without power supply. (Pravda 02/01/2024, OCHA 01/01/2024, The Kyiv Independent 02/01/2024)