February 24, marks one year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This attack was the culmination of a war of aggression that has been going on for 9 years. Here are the key facts and figures about this year.
Liberation
As for January 2023 Ukraine has liberated 40% of land Russia occupied after the beginning of its full-scale invasion on February 24 and 28% of all Russian-occupied territories of the country, including territories in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts. Russia now controls around 18% of internationally recognised areas of Ukraine, including the Donbas and Crimea regions under Russian control since 2014.
Occupation
As of February 24, 1877 settlements in Ukraine are occupied by the Russian Federation.
Casualties
As of February 26, 21 580 civilian casualties were recorded as a result of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine. This includes 17296 casualties (6257 killed and 11039 injured) occurred on the territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine and 4,284 casualties (1844 killed and 2440 injured) occurred on the territory occupied by the Russian Federation. Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects, including shelling from heavy artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, missiles and air strikes. OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration. This concerns, for example, Mariupol (Donetsk region), Lysychansk, Popasna, and Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk region), where there are allegations of numerous civilian casualties.
Children's rights
At least 488 children have been killed due to Russia’s war, and another 962 have been wounded since the conflict began a year ago. More than 350 are missing, and approximately 16220 have been deported from Ukrainian cities to Russia, and 9510 are found. About 307 children have since been returned to Ukraine. According to the survey conducted by ‘Rating group’ 60% of Ukrainian children have witnessed or participated in certain war-related events. Most often, according to mothers, children have experienced the following traumatic events: separation from family and friends (28%), moving to another region of the country (25%), shelling and bombing (24%), prolonged stay in a cold room (17%). Moved abroad – 11%, were under occupation – 8%, witnessed the death of relatives or loved ones – 6%, lost their home – 5%, experienced hunger and lack of water – 5%.
Forced migration
Around 5 352 000 (as of February 21) people have become internally displaced persons in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion. 8 087 952 individual Ukrainian refugees were recorded across Europe. 4 863 513 Refugees from Ukraine registered for temporary protection or similar national protection schemes in Europe.
Support in EU
61% of Europeans believe that the country will prevail according to the EU-wide survey conducted by eupinions, an instrument for European opinion research. Europeans also see the war of aggression as a matter affecting them all, because it is an attack on the whole of Europe. Nearly 68% of respondents in the EU agree with this statement. Polish res pondents overwhelmingly share this view (79%), while the portion of German respondents in agreement lands in the middle (65%). Most EU citizens polled also see Ukraine in a battle to defend a set of common values that are shared by all European states.
Euro-Atlantic integration
Public support for Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO among Ukrainians has increased once again in recent months reaching history’s highest level. 87% support Ukraine joining the European Union, 86% – NATO. 87% of Ukrainians support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union with only 3% being against it, 8% would not vote.
Energy security
Almost one year ago the Russian military seized the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, Zaporizhzhia NPP, which turned it into a military base and is used for nuclear blackmail of the whole world. Since the beginning of the full scale invasion about 50% of the energy infrastructure has been damaged by shelling. In 2022, 98 energy workers died while performing their duties, and twice as many were injured.
Mine-Contamination
According to Ukrainian authorities, in February 2023, the areas contaminated with mines and explosives had increased tenfold since the start of the war, with an estimated 30% of the country’s territory contaminated by mines.
Damages
As for February 2023, 335 145 reports about destroyed housing were submitted by Ukrainian citizens themselves through the governmental app ‘DIIA’, which includes 23 million square meters of destroyed and damaged housing. However, according to regional administrations, this figure may be much higher.
Environmental security
There are more than 2300 cases of environmental damage caused by the war, including shell explosions, fuel leaks into the soil and groundwater, mining, forest burning, and more. In addition, this year at the UN International Conference on Climate Change, a study was presented showing that Russia’s military actions during the seven months of the full-scale invasion have already resulted in the emission of 49 million tons of CO2.
Education
At least 3145 schools, universities and other education facilities were damaged due to the Russian invasion, 415 have been destroyed completely.
Health security
Between February 24 and December 31, 2022, a total of 707 attacks on Ukraine’s health care system, which include 292 documented attacks that damaged or destroyed 218 hospitals and clinics. Many health facilities were attacked more than once. There were 65 documented attacks on ambulances. There were 181 documented attacks on other health infrastructure (e.g., pharmacies, blood centers, dental clinics, research centers, etc.). 86 attacks on health care workers were documented, with 62 health workers killed and 52 injured. Many others were threatened, imprisoned, taken hostage, and forced to work under Russian occupation. One out of 10 of Ukraine’s hospitals have been directly damaged from attacks, with the heaviest destruction in the eastern oblasts of Kharkivska, Donetska, and Luhanska, and also in Khersonska and Kyivska. In some cities and towns, nearly all the health facilities were harmed in some way. In Mariupol, in the southern part of Donetska oblast, almost 8 out of 10 points of health care service provision, sites where medical assistance is available, were either damaged or destroyed.
Culture
As of February 25, 2023, 1322 objects of cultural infrastructure have been damaged, excluding cultural heritage sites. Almost a third of them – 505 objects – are destroyed. At the same time, over the past month, the total number of affected objects of cultural infrastructure has increased by 51 objects, most of which are in Donetsk region (33 objects) and Kharkiv region (9 objects). At the same time, over the past month, the total number of affected objects of cultural infrastructure has increased by 51 objects, most of which are in Donetsk region (33 objects) and Kharkiv region (9 objects).
Media
Russia committed 497 crimes against journalists and media. During 2022 567 freedom of speech violations have been recorded. 470 of them were committed by Russia in the course of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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