The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that civilian casualties in the first six months of 2026 reached 1,396 deaths and 7,978 injuries, representing a 37 percent increase from the same period in 2025 and a 114 percent rise compared to 2024.
The increase was driven largely by long-range Russian attacks on urban centers far from the frontline. Between January and June, civilian casualties from long-range weapons such as missiles and drones increased by 60 percent year-on-year.
A large-scale overnight attack on August 4-5 using ballistic missiles and long-range drones mainly affected Kyiv city and region, killing at least 17 civilians and injuring 44. Several people were killed on a railway station platform in Brovarskyi district. The UN mission noted that the increasing use of ballistic missiles in populated areas is contributing to rising civilian casualties and widespread infrastructure damage.
