The United Nations says 2025 has been more deadly for civilians in Ukraine than last year, with a 30% increase in casualties so far.
Drone attacks caused a third of all recorded civilian deaths and injuries.
“This is increasingly a technological war, a drone war,” Matthias Schmale, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, said.
“Apart from the terror of war, the sirens, the attacks, it’s also increasingly a fight for survival,” with limited access to basic goods, he said.
He added Russia’s near-daily airstrikes on Ukrainian energy sites are also concerning as a colder winter looms.
“Destroying energy production and distribution capacity as winter starts clearly impacts the civilian population and is a form of terror,” he said.
The UN’s winter aid plan, targeting 1.7 million people with heating and cash support, is only half funded.
“My appeal to the international community, with all the other crises going on, don’t forget Ukraine, the war is not over, and we need predictable funding,” Schmale said.