This statement was delivered by Human Rights Watch at the 63rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council during an interactive dialogue with the International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine held on September 21-22, 2026.
Russia's war against Ukraine continues to devastate civilian lives. Since February 2022, at least 16,874 civilians have been killed. Civilian casualties rose 37 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, amid Russia’s intensified use of missiles, long-range drones, and other explosive weapons in populated areas. July was the deadliest month for civilians since May 2022, with at least 437 killed. On July 2 alone, a missile and drone attack on Kyiv killed 31 people and damaged over 130 civilian buildings.
Russian attacks have repeatedly struck schools, markets and shopping malls, buses, humanitarian and healthcare facilities, as well as energy and railway infrastructure. Many of these attacks may amount to war crimes.
In Russian-occupied areas, occupation authorities continue to violate the rights of Ukrainian civilians under their control. They have seized tens of thousands of Ukrainian properties through a sham process, coerced residents to acquire Russian citizenship, unlawfully conscripted residents, and sought to suppress Ukrainian language and identity. Russia has also deported or forcibly transferred thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia or other areas under Russian occupation. The Commission of Inquiry has verified 1,205 such cases, with 80 percent of those children still not returned, and found that these acts amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Human Rights Watch urges this Council to press Russia to end unlawful attacks, cease these crimes against Ukrainian children and ensure their return, and support the Commission's continued mandate and broader international efforts toward accountability.
