Key facts
- The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine recorded at least 274 civilian deaths and 1,763 injuries in May.
- This marks the highest monthly civilian casualty toll in Ukraine since April 2022.
- The mission attributed the increase to intensified hostilities and the use of powerful weapons in urban areas.
- Attacks on residential buildings, industrial areas, and short-range drone strikes were major contributors.
- Civilian casualties were documented in both government-controlled and Russian-occupied territories.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported that May recorded the highest number of civilian casualties since April 2022, with at least 274 deaths and 1,763 injuries. This escalation is attributed to the intensification of hostilities and the increased use of powerful weapons in populated areas.
Key incidents contributing to the high toll included a strike on an industrial area in Zaporizhzhia on May 5, which killed 12 civilians and injured 42, and a missile strike on a residential building in Kyiv on May 14, resulting in 24 civilian deaths and at least seven injuries. The UN noted that this seasonal pattern of increased casualties during spring and summer months is more severe this year.
Civilian harm was not limited to areas near the front lines, with repeated missile and aerial bomb attacks affecting cities across Ukraine. Casualties were documented in both government-controlled territories and Russian-occupied areas, including a strike on a training facility in Starobilsk, Luhansk Oblast, that killed 21 civilians.
Short-range drone attacks emerged as a significant driver of civilian harm, with the UN verifying 64 deaths and 539 injuries from such attacks in May, the highest monthly figure recorded for this weapon type. Kherson was particularly affected, with 14 civilian deaths and 221 injuries, many attributed to drone attacks. The HRMMU also noted reports of civilian casualties in Russia, though verification is limited.