Russian missile and drone strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv killed at least 14 civilians and injured more than 80 others overnight on Monday, according to local authorities. These attacks heavily damaged apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure and occurred just four days after a previous Russian assault that killed at least 30 civilians in Kyiv.

Matthias Schmale, the UN’s top aid official in Ukraine, expressed solidarity with the victims, stating, “It is unbearable to witness the scale of human suffering.” He also noted that strikes in Dnipro, Kherson, Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia have disrupted access to basic services.

The Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attacks, emphasizing that any strikes involving civilians or civilian infrastructure are clear violations of international humanitarian law and must cease immediately. He reiterated his call for urgent de-escalation and a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire.

Across Ukraine, UN human rights officials report an average of 170 civilians have been killed or injured each day in July so far, surpassing casualty rates from the previous year. In addition to Kyiv, Russian missiles and drones also struck Odesa on Monday, damaging multiple homes and injuring one resident.

The Russian military claimed control of the Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka on Friday, but Ukrainian officials disputed this, maintaining that their forces remain in control. The Ukrainian military also reported that a shortage of interceptors prevented the shooting down of any of the 23 ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv.

As civilian casualties rise, the UN’s aid office in Ukraine aims to provide humanitarian assistance to 4.12 million people in 2026, focusing on frontline response, emergency aid for those affected by strikes, and protection for internally displaced persons.

Sources