Ukraine civilian deaths hit monthly high since May 2022 amid intensified Russian attacks

July marked a grim milestone in the Ukraine conflict, with Russian attacks claiming the lives of at least 437 Ukrainian civilians and injuring 2,610, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission. This figure represents a 30 percent increase from June and a staggering 70 percent rise compared to July of the previous year. The UN reported this as the highest monthly civilian death toll recorded since May 2022, cautioning that the actual number of victims is likely higher as death reports are still being verified.

The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was hit particularly hard, with 54 people killed and over 200 injured. The UN attributed these casualties to massive Russian assaults using ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, alongside continued threats from drone strikes and glide bombs. Ukraine has repeatedly expressed concern about its inability to adequately defend against intensified Russian missile attacks, citing a shortage of Patriot missile defense systems.

Meanwhile, civilian casualties also increased on the Russian side in July, with Russian authorities reporting 79 deaths and over 600 injuries. However, the UN mission noted that verifying these figures is difficult due to restricted access to information within Russia.

In a separate development, a drone attack forced an oil refinery in Orsk, Russia, to cease operations completely. The governor of the Orenburg region, Yevgeny Solntsev, warned of potential fuel shortages, estimating that repairs to the damaged imported equipment could take up to six months due to sanctions. Ukraine has been increasingly targeting Russian refineries to disrupt fuel supplies. The Orsk refinery has an annual capacity of six million tons of crude oil. The Ukrainian General Staff also reported attacks on an oil refinery and a petrochemical complex in Russia's Bashkortostan republic.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, humanitarian contacts persist. An exchange of soldiers' bodies took place, mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Ukraine reported receiving the remains of 261 fallen soldiers, while Moscow stated it received 24 bodies back. European aid to Ukraine is also increasing, with support amounting to approximately eleven billion euros in May and June.

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The number of dead is the highest recorded since May 2022.