Filenews 20 August 2025
By Dr Ewelina U. Ochab
While President Trump is trying to ensure peace in Ukraine, Ukraine continues to be bombarded by Russia, and there is no end in sight to this aggression. Indeed, the last few weeks have been the deadliest in Russia's war against Ukraine. This sends a very important message that Western leaders cannot ignore: Russia does not want to end the war without getting everything Putin wants. As President Zelensky commented on the ongoing attacks, "at the moment, the Russians are attacking Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, the Sumy region and Odessa, destroying residential complexes and our infrastructure. The Russians are deliberately killing people, especially children. So far, seven people have been killed in the drone strike in Kharkiv, including a one-and-a-half-year-old girl, and dozens have been injured, including children. In Zaporizhzhia, missile strikes resulted in 20 people being injured and three killed. […] The Russian war machine continues to wipe out lives. Putin will kill ostentatiously to maintain his pressure on Ukraine and Europe, but also to humiliate diplomatic efforts."
President Zelensky's statement is supported by data collected from various bodies. As reported by the United Nations, the number of civilian casualties continued to increase in July (total: 1,674 – 286 dead, 1,388 injured), setting a new record on a monthly basis since May 2022. According to the United Nations, "in July 2025, 22.5% more civilians were killed or injured compared to July 2024. The increase in the number of casualties between June and July 2025 occurred mainly in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government along the front line, which reflects the escalation of Russian military operations to seize more territory. Air strikes were the main cause of the increase in civilian casualties: 276 (67 dead, 209 wounded) in July 2025, compared to 114 (34 dead, 80 wounded) in June 2025." The numbers speak for themselves. Russia is not limiting its aggression to an attempt at a peaceful solution, but is intensifying it.
This increase in attacks has been noticeable for months, even though Putin has agreed to start a dialogue with President Trump. For example, June was one of the worst months in the last three years in terms of civilian casualties, with 232 dead and 1,343 injured (1,575 in total). In June, the Russian Federation launched ten times the number of missile or artillery attacks against Ukraine compared to June 2024. As the United Nations said: "Almost no region of Ukraine was spared, regardless of its distance from the front line. Civilians were killed or injured in at least 16 regions of the country and in the city of Kyiv." Commenting on the developments, Daniel Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), stressed: "Civilians across Ukraine are suffering at the worst level in more than 3 years. The escalation of attacks with long-range missiles and drones across the country has brought more death and destruction to civilians far from the front." One of these attacks in Kyiv, on June 16-17, destroyed a residential complex, killed 30 civilians and left 172 wounded. This attack was the second deadliest attack on Kyiv since the start of the Russian invasion. Daniel Bell also stressed the devastating impact of the ongoing war on civilians, especially children: "Children spend many nights not in their beds, but in corridors, basements and bathrooms, covering their ears from the sounds of sirens and explosions. These experiences leave permanent marks."
August this year was also marked by an escalation of Russian attacks and a large number of civilian casualties. While President Zelensky was traveling to Washington to meet Trump, at least 10 people were killed in major Ukrainian cities by Russian attacks. Considering all these reports, there is nothing to suggest that Russia is doing the slightest thing to de-escalate the conflict and reduce the number of attacks, as a sign of goodwill for peace negotiations.
Peace cannot be a one-sided process, with Ukraine forced to submit to Putin's demands. The future of Ukraine cannot be determined by Putin, the same man who started the war and caused incredible suffering to the Ukrainian people. The crimes committed by Putin, war crimes, crimes against humanity, possibly even genocide, require comprehensive responses, including justice and accountability – and not red carpets, smiles, and handshakes. Peace for Ukraine is urgent, and indeed a lasting peace. Submission to Putin will not achieve this.
