Increase in missile and drone attacks in Ukraine hits the most vulnerable civilians hardest

Press Release | London, 6th May 2025, 16:00 GMT

In its latest report on the impact of explosive weapons in populated areas in Ukraine, Humanity & Inclusion highlights not only an intensification of bombings and artillery fire by both Ukraine and Russia but also the increasing use of drones and ballistic missiles - fast, unpredictable, and overwhelmingly lethal weapons that leave civilians with no time or space to seek safety.

The number of victims has been increasing since the start of 2024, with 40 people injured and 10 killed in January 2024 compared to 223 injured and 38 killed in January 2025.
In January 2025, drones were responsible for 27% of all civilian deaths and 30% of injuries.
In March 2025, five separate attacks using “suicide” drones targeted civilian infrastructure, including homes and apartment blocks
“Suicide” drones, such as the Iranian Shahed, pose significant risks to civilians due to their low radar signature and detonation upon impact.
Ballistic missiles follow an unpowered, often imprecise trajectory, increasing the risk of unintended civilian casualties.
The effects of these weapons are disproportionately felt by the most vulnerable: women, older people, people with disabilities - and especially children
Children are seven times more likely than adults to die from explosion-related injuries.

Humanity & Inclusion is calling for the protection of civilians, while supporting survivors through rehabilitation, distributing essential aid, and conducting awareness sessions on the risks of explosive ordnance.

Ballistic missiles and drones: indiscriminate violence

Since the start of 2025, missile and drone attacks have become increasingly frequent and deadly. In January alone, drones were responsible for 27% of all civilian deaths and 30% of injuries. The number of victims has been increasing since the start of 2024 with 40 people injured and 10 killed in January 2024 compared to 223 injured and 38 killed in January 2025.

“Drones and ballistic missiles are among the most destructive weapons in use today. They present an existential threat to civilians,"says Elliot de Faramond, Humanity & Inclusion Senior Advocacy Officer. “Since the beginning of the year, there have been particularly devastating strikes in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy”.

The consequences are catastrophic.

“Suicide” drones, such as the Iranian Shahed, which Russia has been using extensively since September 2022, pose significant risks to civilians due to their low radar signature and detonation upon impact.

Few minutes - or seconds - often separate survival from death. Ballistic missiles follow an unpowered, often imprecise trajectory, increasing the risk of unintended civilian casualties.

Children caught in the crossfire

The effects of these weapons are disproportionately felt by the most vulnerable: women, older people, people with disabilities - and especially children. Children are seven times more likely than adults to die from explosion-related injuries. The violence doesn’t only kills - it maims, traumatises, and robs children and their families of their homes, schools, friends and futures.

In March alone, five separate attacks using “suicide” drones targeted civilian infrastructure, including homes and apartment blocks. On March 6, a hotel struck by a ballistic missile killed four civilians and injured 32, including two children. The same day, two more missiles hit a restaurant and a government building in Kryvyi Rih, injuring women, children, and damaging schools, shops, and homes.

“Civilians and civilian infrastructure are clearly being deliberately targeted and this must stop. Even in wars there are laws to protect civilians, and they must be respected,” says George Graham, Chief Executive of Humanity & Inclusion UK. “As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, we urge the international community to step up protection for civilians and demand accountability for violations. The voices of the victims must be heard.”

On March 24, a missile strike on Sumy left over 100 casualties - nearly one quarter of them children. A few weeks later, on Sunday 13 April, in the same city, another Russian missile strike killed at least 34 people and injured around 100 people, including children. The missiles hit two buildings: the University of Sumy and a supermarket, at a time when they were very busy as families were celebrating Palm Sunday.

Mykola, 72, was injured by a drone attack

Mykola Koribko, 72, was gravely injured by a grenade dropped from a Russian drone as he tried to evacuate his village near Kherson. “My arm was torn off instantly,” he recalls. “We were warned of an imminent attack on the village and had to leave quickly. I was gathering our belongings and animals when I went to the village centre to try to get an internet connection. That’s when a grenade fell nearby. My arm was torn off instantly, and I lost consciousness. I don’t know how long it lasted. I screamed for help, thinking I was dying.”

Mykola now lives in a centre for displaced persons in Mykolaiv and is undergoing long-term rehabilitation with support from Humanity & Inclusion. His story is one of thousands lives upended in an instant by explosive weapons.

Increase in the number of civilian victims

The use of explosive weapons in populated areas is a key driver of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Over 42,500 civilians have been killed or injured since February 2022. The first months of 2025 have seen an intensification of bombings and artillery fire. In January, 139 civilians were killed, and 738 were injured, an increase of 40% compared to December 2024. As of 2025, an estimated 12.7 million people in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Humanity & Inclusion is responding by supporting survivors like Mykola with physical rehabilitation, as well as distributing essential aid and conducting awareness sessions on the risks of explosive ordnance. Since February 2022, Humanity & Inclusion teams have reached over 86,000 people with these life-saving sessions, especially in hard-to-reach or newly accessible areas of Ukraine.

Call to protect civilians

“We reiterate our urgent call for all parties to the conflict to cease the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, particularly indiscriminate weapons such as ballistic missiles and drones. Civilians must be protected and international humanitarian law respected,” says George Graham.