Civilian deaths in Ukraine highest since May 2022

The number of civilian deaths in Ukraine hit its highest point since May 2022 in July, marking a grim milestone in the ongoing conflict, according to United Nations data released Thursday. This surge coincides with a record number of missile attacks launched by Russia against Ukraine during the month, including ballistic and cruise missiles that struck the capital, Kyiv. At least 437 civilians perished in July, representing a 30% increase compared to the previous month and a 70% rise from July 2025. The UN's human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) stated, "The number of fatalities is the highest since May 2022." In addition to the deaths, 2,610 civilians were injured. Kyiv emerged as one of the most severely affected cities, recording 54 civilian deaths and 202 injuries. Drones and long-range missiles were identified as the main drivers of civilian casualties in July, accounting for 38% of the total, according to the UN mission. Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, the conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, predominantly soldiers. The UN has verified 16,874 civilian deaths since the invasion's start, though this figure is considered a significant undercount, particularly for areas under Russian occupation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to urge allies to provide more sophisticated air defense systems, such as U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles, to counter the threat of fast-moving ballistic missiles. In response, Ukraine has intensified its own long-range attacks on Russian territory. Moscow reported 79 civilian deaths and 601 injuries on its territory in July due to these attacks, though the UN could not independently verify these figures due to a lack of information and access.