Ukraine Protection Analysis Update

The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022 led to an international armed conflict, characterized by targeted and disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, forced displacement, sexual violence and high risks of infliction of psychological distress.

The ongoing conflict, well into its third year, has uprooted the lives of millions of Ukrainians. Over 6.5 million people have fled the country as refugees, with a further 3.5 million internally displaced. Within the country, over 11.5 million individuals, amongst them IDPs, returnees and non-displaced people, are in need of humanitarian protection assistance and services. Populations living in the East, South and North of the country on the frontlines, an estimated 3.3 million people, and those in the territories occupied by the Russian Federation are at particular risk.

Since February 2022, over 32,100 civilian casualties have been recorded by the UN across Ukraine, including almost 2,000 child casualties, the majority of which were a result of shelling, artillery and missile strikes. The impacts of the war are widespread and uneven, posing significant setbacks to the country’s development, with the greatest effects felt by the most vulnerable: IDPs, children and youth, people with disabilities, older people, LGBTQI+ persons and other groups at high risk.

In addition to protection of civilians concerns highlighted in the context, protection risks requiring immediate attention in the period covered by this analysis are:

1. Restrictions to Freedom of Movement, Forced Displacement, and Induced Returns
2. Children's Physical and Psychosocial Safety and Well-Being Threatened by Compounding Risks
3. Gender-Based Violence, with Heightened Risks of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse for Trafficking, Sexual Harassment and Other Forms of GBV
4. Presence of Mine and Other Explosive Ordnance
5. Impediments and/or Restrictions to Access to Legal Identity, Remedies and Justice