The United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported that June 2026 was the deadliest month for civilians since April 2022, with at least 293 killed and 1,990 injured. This surpassed May 2026, which had already recorded the highest civilian casualties in over four years, with 282 killed and 1,794 injured.

During the first half of 2026, HRMMU verified 1,396 civilian deaths and 7,978 injuries, marking a 37% increase compared to the same period in 2025 and a 114% rise compared to 2024. The surge in casualties is largely attributed to the intensified use of powerful long-range weapons, including missiles and drones, particularly in densely populated urban areas far from the frontline such as Kyiv and Dnipro.

Between January and June, civilian casualties from such attacks increased by 60% compared with 2025. Short-range drones were responsible for most civilian deaths and injuries near the frontline, reaching record monthly levels in June with 89 killed and 588 injured.

Authorities reported 250 civilian deaths and 1,596 injuries in these frontline areas, a 121% increase over the same period in 2025. Additionally, Moscow continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in June, while Ukrainian forces increased attacks on power facilities in occupied Crimea.

Danielle Bell, head of HRMMU, described the figures as showing "an alarming escalatory trend with mounting civilian toll, driven by the intensifying use of powerful weapons that are particularly deadly when used in densely populated urban areas." She warned that the risks to civilians are growing in both scale and complexity.

Sources