Conflict & Security
Ukraine civilian deaths highest since May 2022, UN says
Civilian deaths in Ukraine reached their highest level since May 2022 in July, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission said Thursday.
The mission said at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine during the month. It said the death toll was 30 percent higher than in the previous month and 70 percent higher than in July 2025.
AFP analysis of data published by Kyiv's air force found that Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in July. The analysis said ballistic missiles, which are difficult to intercept, struck the Ukrainian capital during the month.
The UN said at least 54 civilians were killed in Kyiv, calling it one of the hardest-hit cities in July.
The UN said it has verified 16,874 civilian deaths since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. It cautioned that the figure is likely a significant underestimate because it cannot confirm casualties in parts of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops, including Mariupol.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked allies for more advanced air defence systems, especially US Patriot systems, to counter ballistic missile attacks.
Ukraine has also increased long-range attacks on Russia, describing them as retaliatory strikes aimed at Moscow's war machine and energy revenues.
Russian authorities reported 79 civilian deaths in July. The United Nations said it could not independently verify those figures to its verification standards because of lack of access and limited information.
Update
AFP analysis of Kyiv air force data found Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in July.
The UN said at least 54 civilians were killed in Kyiv in July.
The UN said it has verified 16,874 civilian deaths in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began, while warning the figure is likely an underestimate.
Russian authorities reported 79 civilian deaths in July, but the UN said it could not independently verify those figures to its standards.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 09:04:01 UTC.
Update
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission said at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July.
The mission said July's civilian deaths were 30 percent higher than the previous month and 70 percent higher than July 2025.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 08:47:45 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The UN says its verified civilian death total is likely an underestimate because it lacks access to some Russian-occupied areas.
Russian-reported civilian deaths in July have not been independently verified by the UN to its standards.
Source
AFP news report published on .