Child casualties in Ukraine increase by 65 per cent over the past month

KYIV, 16 April 2026 – The number of children killed or injured in Ukraine continues to rise, with incessant attacks resulting in 89 child casualties in March 2026 alone, according to latest verified data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. This represents a 65 per cent increase compared with February and underscores the devastating impact of these attacks on families and communities. 

The dangers to every child were tragically laid bare by deadly attacks overnight on 15 April, impacting Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Odesa. A 12-year-old boy was killed in the capital in what should be the safety of his home, with more children injured across the country, according to reports today. 

Children are affected across the country, far from the frontlines, with long-range attacks being the primary cause of deaths and injuries, according to the latest UN report on civilian casualties in Ukraine. Eighty children were injured and four girls and five boys were killed in March. During the first quarter of 2026, the number of child casualties increased by 49 per cent on the same period last year. 

“No child is safe in the country,” said Anne-Claire Dufay, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine.  “Children still live under the constant threat of attacks wherever they are,” she added. 

At least 3,452 children in Ukraine have been killed or injured since February 2022. As these are only UN-verified cases, the true number is likely to be considerably higher. “Every child killed or injured leaves a deep wound on their loved ones and communities. No family should have to suffer from this immense pain,” said Anne-Claire Dufay. 

During more than four years of raging war, children have also been forced to flee their homes on multiple occasions. According to a recent UNICEF survey, one in three adolescents aged 15-19 reported moving at least twice, citing safety as the most common reason for fleeing. Seeking better access to education and other social services was also noted as being a driver of displacement. 

The services that children rely on for their wellbeing and development are also frequently impacted, with schools, health facilities, electricity and water and sanitation systems damaged or destroyed. 

UNICEF and partners continue to deliver critical assistance to children and families in frontline areas and across the country. During the first quarter of 2026 alone, this included: 

• Improving access to safe water for 1.8 million people
• Restoring and maintaining heating services for nearly 520,000 people
• Providing more than 23,140 families with humanitarian cash assistance
• Improving access to formal or non-formal education, including early learning for some 35,000 children
• Reaching 66,400 children and caregivers with explosive ordnance risk education and survivor assistance
• Providing mental health and psychosocial support to 116,000 children, adolescents and caregivers
• Enabling access to gender-based violence risk mitigation, prevention and response interventions for nearly 39,000 women, girls and boys

UNICEF calls again for respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, and to end and prevent grave violations against children. Children must be protected at all times. 

Above all, children in Ukraine need a lasting peace that protects their rights and nurtures their wellbeing.