Civilian casualties in Ukraine reach highest level since March 2022

In July 2026, at least 3,047 civilians were killed or injured in Ukraine — the highest monthly figure since March 2022. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission confirmed the deaths of 437 civilians and injuries to 2,610 others.

Compared to June, the number of civilian casualties rose by 30%. That month, the UN recorded 298 deaths and 2,041 injuries. Compared to July 2025, the increase was 70% — a year earlier, 312 people had been killed and 1,482 injured.

The UN separately notes the rise in the death toll. The 437 confirmed deaths represent the highest monthly figure since May 2022. The actual number of casualties may be higher, as the mission continues to verify reports and its capacity to verify data from the occupied territories is limited.

July was especially hard on children. During the month, 17 children were killed and 166 others were injured. The total number of child casualties was the highest since April 2022.

Missiles and long-range drones were the leading cause of casualties

The largest number of deaths and injuries resulted from long-range weapons — missiles and drones. They caused 1,150 civilian casualties: 183 people were killed and 967 wounded. This accounted for 38% of all UN-confirmed civilian casualties for the month. Most such attacks occurred far from the front line, primarily in large cities.

The consequences of air strikes also rose sharply. In July, aerial weapons killed 105 civilians and wounded 753. Compared to June, the number of such casualties increased by 143%. Guided aerial bombs became the second most significant cause of civilian casualties.

Near the front line, short-range drones pose an increasingly serious threat. In July, such attacks killed 111 civilians and wounded 710. This is the highest monthly figure since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. Short-range drone attacks accounted for 27% of all civilian casualties during the month.

Kyiv among the most affected cities

Civilian deaths and injuries in July were recorded in 14 regions of Ukraine and in Kyiv. Among individual cities, the UN documented the largest losses in Kyiv — 54 killed and 202 wounded, Kherson — 34 killed and 424 wounded, Zaporizhzhia — 27 killed and 280 wounded, and Sumy — 20 killed and 152 wounded.

The UN attributes a significant part of the increase in casualties in the capital to the rise in Russian missile attacks. According to the mission, in July Russia launched at least 429 missiles at Ukraine — more than twice as many as in June. One of the deadliest strikes on Kyiv during the month resulted in at least 30 civilian deaths.

The deterioration is not confined to a single month. For January–July 2026, the UN confirmed 12,477 civilian casualties: 1,839 people killed and 10,638 injured. This is 44% more than in the same period of 2025, and more than double the figure for the first seven months of 2024.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has confirmed the deaths of at least 16,874 civilians in Ukraine, including 820 children. Another 51,273 civilians, including 3,126 children, have been injured. The UN stresses that the actual figures may be higher than those confirmed.

Based on materials from: UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine