Fact Check: "97% of civilian casualties occurred in areas controlled by Ukraine, according to a UN report."
What We Know
A recent report by the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) indicates that 97% of civilian casualties occurred in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government. This finding is based on data collected during the first five months of 2025, which noted a significant increase in civilian deaths and injuries compared to the previous year. Specifically, the report highlighted that civilian casualties included 1,389 in April and 1,019 in May, marking a troubling trend in the ongoing conflict (UN News, HRMMU Report).
Analysis
The claim that 97% of civilian casualties occurred in areas controlled by Ukraine is substantiated by multiple authoritative sources, including the UN's HRMMU. The report explicitly states that "the vast majority of civilian casualties (97 per cent) occurred in areas under the control of the Government of Ukraine" (HRMMU Report). This data is corroborated by earlier reports from April 2025, which also indicated the same percentage of casualties occurring in Ukrainian-controlled areas (April 2025 Update).
The reliability of the UN as a source is generally high, given its established role in monitoring human rights and civilian safety in conflict zones. However, it's important to note that the context of these casualties is complex. The report attributes the high number of civilian casualties to intensified attacks, including long-range missile strikes and drone attacks, which have disproportionately affected civilians in populated areas (UN News).
While the report is credible, it is essential to consider potential biases in the interpretation of data. The Ukrainian government has a vested interest in portraying the situation in a particular light, especially during an ongoing conflict. However, the data presented by the UN is based on systematic monitoring and reporting, lending it a level of objectivity.
Conclusion
The claim that 97% of civilian casualties occurred in areas controlled by Ukraine is True. This assertion is directly supported by the UN's HRMMU reports, which provide clear statistics on civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict. The data reflects a significant humanitarian crisis, underscoring the devastating impact of warfare on civilians, particularly in areas under Ukrainian control.
Sources
- Политика - Новости Беларуси - Хартия'97 (https://charter97.org/ru/news/politics/)
- Ukraine: Ongoing Russian strikes continue alarming civilian ... (https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164276)
- Новости Беларуси - Хартия'97 (https://charter97.org/ru/news/p/2/)
- Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict — May 2025 (https://ukraine.un.org/en/296118-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-%E2%80%94-may-2025)
- Новости Беларуси - Хартия'97 (https://charter97.org/ru/news/p/5/)
- April 2025 update (https://ukraine.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Ukraine%20-%20protection%20of%20civilians%20in%20armed%20conflict%20%28April%202025%29_ENG.pdf)
- 毕业论文回归分析，R-square多少比较正常？ - 知乎 (https://www.zhihu.com/question/41435919/answers/updated)
- Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict — April 2025 (https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/Protection-of-Civilians-in-Armed-Conflict-April-2025)
