Key facts
- Civilian deaths in Ukraine increased by 30% in July compared to June, reaching 437 killed.
- Injured civilians numbered 2,610 in July, a 70% increase from the same month last year.
- Long-range weapons, including missiles and drones, were responsible for 38% of civilian deaths.
- Russian glide bombs led to a 143% rise in casualties from aerial bombardments.
- Child casualties in July were the highest since April 2022.
Civilian casualties in Ukraine surged by nearly a third in July, reaching the highest level since May 2022, as Russia intensified attacks on towns and cities far from the front lines with missiles and drones, the United Nations reported.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine confirmed at least 437 civilians killed and 2,610 injured in July, a 30% increase from June and a 70% jump from the same month last year. Long-range weapons, such as missiles and drones, were the primary cause of these deaths, accounting for 38% of the total, with most occurring in urban centers.
Russia has recently increased its use of ballistic missiles, which are difficult to intercept, and glide bombs. Civilian casualties from aerial bombardments rose by 143% month-on-month in July. The UN also noted a rise in deaths from short-range drones near the front lines, with residents in cities like Kherson describing them as 'hunting down' civilians.
Kyiv was the hardest-hit city in July, followed by Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The number of child casualties also reached its highest point since April 2022. The UN also reported 25 civilians killed and 50 wounded in Russian-occupied areas, noting that the actual figure was likely higher due to limited information.
Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians. The UN estimates over 16,000 civilians have been killed since the conflict began. Ukraine has also been attacking Russia with drones and missiles, which Russian authorities claim have caused civilian casualties.