Toll of Russia’s War on Ukrainian Children

It’s difficult to say who has suffered more. The children who Russia steals from the arms of their parents? The children who see their parents, loved ones and friends killed or raped by Russian cutthroats? The children who are injured or maimed in Russia’s war against Ukraine?

Certainly not those children who have been killed by Russian invaders since the war started on February 24, 2022.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported more than 3,200 Ukrainian children have been killed or injured since Russia's invasion began exactly four years ago. The group's representative to Ukraine, Munir Mammadzade, joins Becky Anderson to break down the impact of the conflict on the country's most vulnerable.

More than a third of Ukraine’s children – 2,589,900 – remain displaced as the Russian war vs Ukraine enters its fifth year. This includes more than 791,000 children inside Ukraine and nearly 1,798,900 children living as refugees outside the country.   

“Millions of children and families have fled their homes in search of safety, with 1 in 3 children remaining displaced four years into this relentless war. Obligations under international humanitarian law must be upheld. Every child has the right to grow up in safety and without exception that right must be respected,” said UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Regina De Dominicis.

Many children have been forced to flee their homes multiple times. A recent survey conducted by UNICEF found that of those displaced, 1 in 3 adolescents aged 15-19 years reported moving at least twice. Safety was cited as the most common reason for fleeing.

Bombardments have killed or injured more than 3,200 children since February 24, 2022. Last year saw a 10% increase in child casualties compared to 2024, the third consecutive year in a row that UN-verified child casualties have increased.  

More than 1,700 schools and other education facilities have been damaged or destroyed, resulting in 1 in 3 children unable to attend in-person schooling full-time. 

Recent strikes on energy infrastructure have left millions of children and families struggling to survive in extreme sub-zero temperatures as they are forced to endure days without heating, electricity and water at home. Babies and young children are at the highest risk of respiratory illnesses and hyperthermia in these conditions, while medical facilities struggle to operate under attacks and reduced energy, with nearly 200 medical facilities verified as damaged or destroyed in 2025 alone.

Aside from the physical dangers, children’s mental health is increasingly under strain. Constant fear of attacks, endless sheltering in basements, and isolation at home with limited social connections has left adolescents struggling. A recent survey found that one in four 15-19-year-olds is losing hope of a future in Ukraine, pointing to an urgent need for safety and stability, and investment in the critical services and opportunities that children and young people need. 

“At first, when I came to Bulgaria, it was difficult for me and I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Today I already have friends here, I study in a Bulgarian school, and I dream of becoming a child psychologist because I want to help other children. This is very important,” shared 16-year-old Denys from Ukraine, who has been living in Bulgaria for three years and is part of the “Young Hopes” club in Varna, supported by UNICEF. 

In Bulgaria, since the outbreak of the war, more than 220,000 people have received temporary protection. In 2026, over 80,000 people from Ukraine are still in the country, around 25-30% of whom — or nearly 24,000 — children. UNICEF Bulgaria works with national and local authorities, as well as non-governmental organizations, to ensure access to essential services for vulnerable children and families from Ukraine, including support for education, access to information, help with adaptation, and group and individual support to cope with trauma and uncertainty.

A 2025 UNICEF survey showed that 1 in 5 children reported having lost a close relative or friend. 

Around 70% of children — 3.5 million children — in Ukraine still lack access to basic goods and services, including adequate food or shelter. One-third of Ukraine’s children live in homes without functioning water supply and sewage and nearly half of all children lack access to an area to play at home or outside. Over 3,300 schools and pre-schools have been damaged or destroyed. In frontline areas, many students attend classes in underground shelters due to safety concerns.  

In 2025, delivering through local authorities and partners in Ukraine, UNICEF reached 7 million people, including 2.5 million children with humanitarian support. UNICEF’s recovery programming, working with national and local authorities, strengthened social services for some 9.8 million people across the country.