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Kyiv, Ukraine, 16 April 2025 -The devastating Palm Sunday (April 13) attacks on civilians in the Ukrainian city of Sumy earlier in the week, left more than 30 people dead, including children, and more than 100 injured. On the night of April 16-17, drone attacks in Dnipro killed three people and injured more than 30 others, including 5 children. These are all stark illustrations of the extreme dangers faced by civilians on the ground in Ukraine.
As a humanitarian organization, CARE calls for adherence to International Humanitarian Law to protect civilians and ensure uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.
“The recent attacks prove that there is no security anywhere in the country. While Ukrainians prepared for Easter, attacks on urban areas are destroying lives and deepening the suffering of those already in crisis,” says Daria Chekalova, CARE Ukraine Advocacy Advisor.
International Safety Organization (INSO) estimates that there were nearly 7,400 security incidents – including rocket attacks, drone attacks, hybrid attacks and even cyber-attacks recorded in March alone in Ukraine. This is the highest monthly figure so far this year. According to local authorities, shelling of Kharkiv doubled, compared to February. As of mid-April, tens of thousands of residents have left 48 residential areas in Sumy.
A similar situation is unfolding on the frontlines in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, where risks to civilians and humanitarian teams are on the rise. “We work in communities where explosions are heard almost daily.
“People are scared, but they also need hope,” says Yevheniia Afonina, Program Manager at NGO Avalyst, a CARE partner in Donetsk region. “We see how even small help changes lives – children smile again, and older people feel remembered. But without safety, all of this is at risk.”
Despite the many challenges, CARE and its partners continue working in incredibly dangerous conditions, risking their lives every day to deliver food, clean water, hygiene items, and offer psychosocial support to people who unable to leave the conflict zones.
CARE supports its local partners through specialized training in security and first aid. In 2024, CARE trained 186 staff of local its Ukrainian partners to operate in high-risk environments, teaching them how to recognize and respond to dangerous situations and providing them with personal protective equipment. Moreover, female trainers were recruited specifically to work with women on trauma care, hygiene access, and ensuring safety during travel.
For media enquiries, email: usa.media@care.org, or Halyna Bilak, Communication Coordinator, CARE Ukraine, Bilak@care.de