In July 2025, Action on Armed Violence recorded 5,341 deaths and injuries from 842 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 91% (4,894) of the deaths and injuries recorded.
In instances where explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 97% of casualties (4,826) were civilians, as opposed to 16% (57) in lesser-populated areas.
Manufactured explosive weapons accounted for 99% (4,883) of civilian casualties, while improvised explosive weapons (IEDs) accounted for 1% (38) of these civilian casualties in July 2025.
Of the main launch-method types of manufactured explosive weapons, air-launched explosive weapons accounted for 68% (3,346) of civilian casualties, ground-launched weapons were responsible for 16% (803) of civilian casualties, and mines were responsible for less than 1% (14) of civilian casualties.
At least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 22 countries and territories in July 2025. The five most affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Gaza (2,221 civilian casualties), Ukraine (1,956), Myanmar (225), Sudan (105) and Russia (96).
GAZA
In July 2025, there were 371 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Gaza, 356 of which caused 2,221 civilian casualties, 1,380 of whom were killed and 841 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 180 children, 55 women and 55 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 98% of all 2,275 casualties recorded in Gaza in July, as there were also 54 reported armed-actor casualties, 19 of whom were killed and 35 injured.
99.9% (2,219) civilian casualties occurred in populated areas:
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Encampment | 47% (1,034) |
| Urban residential areas | 24% (749) |
| Humanitarian infrastructure | 10% (214) |
| School | 4% (79) |
| Market | 3% (70) |
| Hospital | 1% (26) |
| Multiple (urban) | >1%(13) |
| Public gathering | >1% (12) |
| Entertainment | >1% (11) |
| Place of worship | >1% (4) |
| Commercial premises | >1% (4) |
| Hotel | >1% (3) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Gaza in July are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| North | 1,046 |
| Central | 630 |
| South | 545 |
99.9% (2,219) civilian casualties were attributed to state actor use of explosive weapons, specifically Israel, the other 2 civilian casualties were attributed to an actor of unknown name and status.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 89% of civilian casualties:Air strikes (1,972)Air-dropped bombs (9)Air-launched missiles (2) |
| Ground launched weapons | 11% of civilian casualties Non-specific shelling (209)Artillery shelling (19)Tank shelling (8)Grenades (2) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Gaza in July 2025 decreased slightly compared to levels recorded in June. AOAV recorded 281 incidents in June, which caused 2,480 civilian casualties, 281 of whom were killed and 1,230 injured. In May, 395 incidents were recorded, which caused 2,301 civilian casualties (395 killed, 799 injured).
UKRAINE
In July 2025, there were 304 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Ukraine, 301 of which caused 1,956 civilian casualties, 279 of whom were killed and 1,677 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 74 children, 98 women and 128 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 97% of all 2,009 casualties recorded in Ukraine in July, as there were also 53 reported armed-actor casualties, 17 of whom were killed, and 36 injured.
99.3% (1,944) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas:
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential areas | 63% (1,232) |
| Multiple (urban) | 29% (568) |
| Village | 2% (38) |
| Commercial premises | 2% (30) |
| Hospital | 1% (26) |
| Public transport | 1% (22) |
| School | >1% (13) |
| Transport related infrastructure | >1% (8) |
| Road | >1% (5) |
| Other | >1% (2) |
The oblasts in which civilian casualties were reported in Ukraine in July:
| Oblast | Civilian casualties |
| Donetsk | 360 |
| Kyiv | 354 |
| Kharkiv | 344 |
| Kherson | 241 |
| Dnipropetrovsk | 200 |
| Zaporizhizhia | 132 |
| Sumy | 130 |
| Poltava | 70 |
| Odesa | 39 |
| Chernihivtsi | 29 |
| Cherkasy | 13 |
| Lviv | 9 |
| Vinnytsia | 8 |
| Mykolaiv | 8 |
| Chernihiv | 5 |
| Luhansk | 5 |
| Ivano Frankivsk | 4 |
| Myrnohrad | 2 |
| Ternopil | 2 |
| Khmelnytsky | 1 |
The majority of recorded civilian casualties (99.2%) were attributed to state actor use of explosive weapons, specifically Russia (1,941 civilian casualties). Actors of unknown name and status caused less than 1% (15) of civilian casualties.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 49% of civilian casualties:Air strikes (936)Air-dropped bombs (16) |
| Combined explosive weapons | 24% of civilian casualties (478) |
| Ground launched weapons | 16% of civilian casualties Non-specific shelling (256)Artillery shelling (43)Ground-launched rockets (10)Grenades (10) |
| Weapons of unclear launch method | 16% of civilian casualties Missiles (190)Rockets (2) |
| Mine | >1% of civilian casualties Landmine (8) |
| IEDs | >1% of civilian casualtiesNon-specific IED (6)Car bomb (1) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Ukraine in July 2025 increased compared to levels recorded in June, when 261 incidents caused 1,821 civilian casualties, 261 of whom were killed and 1,577 injured. In May, 230 incidents were recorded, which caused 1,100 civilian casualties (230 killed, 934 injured).
MYANMAR
In July 2025, there were 30 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Myanmar, 29 of which caused 225 civilian casualties, 112 of whom were killed and 113 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 21 children, 14 women and 13 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 90% of the 250 casualties recorded in Myanmar in July, as there were also 25 reported armed-actor casualties, six of whom were killed and 19 injured.
99% (222) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 41% (92) |
| Village | 28% (62) |
| Place of worship | 26% (57) |
| Encampment | 3% (6) |
| Agricultural land | 2% (5) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Myanmar in July are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| Sagaing | 84 |
| Karen | 43 |
| Mandalay | 42 |
| Shan | 34 |
| Rakhine | 8 |
| Tanintharyi | 5 |
| Magway | 4 |
| Chin | 2 |
| Kachin | 2 |
| Mon | 1 |
State actors, specifically Myanmar, accounted for 95% (214) of all civilian casualties. Non-state actors, specifically the Karen National Liberation Army (KLNA) and the People’s Defence Force (PDF), accounted for 3% (6) of civilian casualties. Non-state actors of unknown name and status accounted for 1% (2) of civilian casualties. Actors of unknown name and status accounted for 1% (3) of civilian casualties,
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 91% of civilian casualties Air strikes (192)Air-dropped bomb (12) |
| Ground launched weapons | 8% of civilian casualties:Artillery shelling (16)Mortars (1)Non-specific shelling (1) |
| Mine | 1% of civilian casualtiesLandmine (3) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Myanmar in July 2025 increased compared to levels recorded in June, where 25 incidents resulted in 213 civilian casualties, 25 of whom were killed and 166 injured. In May, 30 incidents were recorded, which caused 347 civilian casualties (30 killed, 243 injured).
SUDAN
In July 2025, there were 14 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Sudan, 13 of which caused 105 civilian casualties, 82 of whom were killed and 23 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 12 children. Overall, civilians accounted for 97% of casualties recorded in Sudan in July, as there were also three reported armed-actor casualties, all of whom were killed.
All 105 civilian casualties reported occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Encampment | 46% (48) |
| Urban residential | 37% (39) |
| Market | 10% (10) |
| School | 8% (8) |
The states in which civilian casualties were reported in Sudan in July are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| North Darfur | 58 |
| West Kordofan | 32 |
| North Kordofan | 15 |
Non-state actors, specifically the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) caused 54% (57) of civilian casualties. State actors, specifically Sudan, accounted for 41% (43) of civilian casualties. Combined use of explosive weapons by state and non-state actors, specifically Sudan and the RSF accounted for 5% (5) of civilian casualties.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Ground launched weapons | 51% of civilian casualties Artillery shelling (49)Non-specific shelling (5) |
| Air launched weapons | 49% of civilian casualties:Air strikes (51) |
Civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Sudan in July 2025 decreased compared to June, when 15 incidents caused 256 reported civilian casualties (145 killed, 111 injured). In May, 17 incidents of explosive weapon use were recorded, which resulted in 428 reported civilian casualties (207 killed, 221 injured).
RUSSIA
In July 2025, there were 19 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Russia, 18 of which resulted in 96 civilian casualties, 15 of whom were killed and 81 injured. Civilian casualties included at least nine women and six men. Overall, civilians accounted for 87% of all 110 casualties recorded in Russia in July, as 14 armed actor casualties were also recorded, ten of whom were killed, and four injured.
91% (87) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
|---|---|
| Other | 59% (51) |
| Urban residential | 36% (31) |
| Multiple (urban) | 3% (3) |
| Village | 2% (2) |
The oblasts in which civilian casualties were recorded in Russia in July are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| Izhevsk | 48 |
| Belgorod | 22 |
| Vorononezh | 16 |
| Lipetsk | 5 |
| Tula | 2 |
| Krasnodar | 2 |
| Bryansk | 1 |
State actors, specifically Ukraine, accounted for all 96 civilian casualties recorded in July.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 93% of civilian casualties Air strikes (63)Air-dropped bomb (26) |
| Ground launched weapons | 4% of civilian casualtiesNon-specific shelling (4) |
| Combined explosive weapons | 3% of civilian casualties (3) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Russia in July 2025 increased significantly compared to levels recorded in June, when three incidents caused two civilian casualties, one of whom was killed and two injured. In May, five incidents were recorded, which caused 27 civilian casualties (4 killed, 23 injured).
AOAV condemns the use of violence against civilians and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. All actors should stop using explosive weapons with wide-area effects where there is likely to be a high concentration of civilians.
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