The latest wave of Russian strikes has left a trail of devastation across Ukraine, with at least 12 buildings in the capital, Kyiv, severely damaged. Homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure have suffered extensive destruction, and haunting scenes have emerged of mobile phones ringing from beneath the rubble.

Other major Ukrainian cities, including Zhytomyr to the west of Kyiv, and the northeastern cities of Sumy and Kharkiv, were also heavily targeted. In Sumy, a missile attack during the daytime on 13 April tragically killed at least 34 people, while Kharkiv endured 24 drone and missile strikes, according to local authorities.

Last night, 6 children reportedly injured in attack on residential area in #Kyiv

This follows a week of devastation, with 1 child reported killed in Kherson & injuries to others across #Ukraine

We say it again. Stop the use of explosive weapons on civilian areas #ForEveryChild pic.twitter.com/eZACH5QK6i

— UNICEF Ukraine (@UNICEF_UA) April 24, 2025

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that casualty numbers are expected to climb as search-and-rescue operations continue amid the wreckage.

Rising Civilian Casualties Amidst Ongoing Conflict

This surge in violence comes against the backdrop of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent decision to reject a US-led proposal aimed at brokering a peace agreement with Russia. The proposed deal reportedly would have required Ukraine to cede territories occupied by Russia, including the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

Reacting to the latest strikes, Matthias Schmale, the UN’s top humanitarian official in Ukraine, condemned the attacks on residential areas as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. More than 70 civilians, including children and a pregnant woman, were reportedly injured in the missile and drone strikes on Wednesday night. "This senseless use of force must end. Civilians must never be the targets," Schmale insisted.

A Surge in Civilian Attacks Across Ukraine

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) echoed calls for an immediate end to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reported that March 2025 saw at least 164 civilians killed and 910 injured—a staggering 50 percent rise compared to February.

Further, OCHA outlined a series of drone and glide bomb attacks across densely populated regions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Cities like Zaporizhzhia, close to the frontlines and sheltering many displaced persons, also suffered heavy bombardments. A glide bomb strike there claimed one life and wounded more than 40 people, including seven children and a pregnant woman. Homes, apartment buildings, hospitals, warehouses, and energy facilities were among the targets across Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Poltava, and Odesa.

A Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, described the scenes in Kyiv as “deeply disturbing,” emphasizing that civilians continue to bear the brunt of escalating hostilities. From 1 to 24 April alone, at least 848 civilian casualties have been verified—151 killed and 697 injured—reflecting a 46 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Officials expect these numbers to rise as more reports are confirmed.

Bell shared harrowing accounts from survivors she met at local hospitals. One 62-year-old woman was traveling by bus to church with her husband when a missile strike claimed his life and left her with a severe head injury. Another survivor, a 64-year-old woman, was on her way to the market and now faces multiple surgeries due to her injuries.

Urgent International Attention Needed

As April comes to a close, the United Nations is sounding the alarm about the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine. With civilian casualties on the rise and attacks growing more frequent and intense, the international community is being urged to step up efforts to protect civilians and address the mounting humanitarian crisis. Without immediate action, the toll on non-combatants could worsen even further in the months ahead.