UN Says Ukraine Civilian Casualties Reached Highest Monthly Level Since 2022

Civilian casualties in Ukraine surged to their highest monthly level since the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion, with the United Nations reporting that at least 265 civilians were killed and 1,816 injured in June 2026.

Addressing the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said the latest figures from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) marked the highest combined monthly casualty total since the conflict escalated in February 2022.

DiCarlo noted that civilian casualties in May had already reached their highest level since April 2022, but preliminary OHCHR data indicates June surpassed that record. Final verified figures for June are expected to be released later this month, according to a U.N. spokesperson.

The U.N. also warned that the trend appears to be continuing in July following several large-scale Russian aerial attacks targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities over the past week. Many of the strikes reportedly hit densely populated urban areas, raising concerns about the growing toll on civilians.

"Any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur, are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately," DiCarlo told the Security Council.

According to verified OHCHR data, at least 16,402 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The death toll includes 802 children. Another 48,428 civilians, including 2,948 children, have been injured during the conflict. The U.N. emphasized that the actual numbers are likely significantly higher because many incidents remain impossible to independently verify.

DiCarlo added that civilians living in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, as well as those inside Russia, have also suffered casualties.

Russian authorities have reported that 250 civilians were killed and 1,596 injured within Russia during the first six months of 2026. However, DiCarlo said the United Nations has not been able to independently verify those figures.