437 civilians dead, 2,610 hurt: the UN says July was the worst month for Ukraine’s civilians in more than four years
At least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July 2026, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission said in a report.
That was the highest monthly civilian casualty toll since May 2022, when at least 589 civilians were killed and 1,152 others injured.
Separately, the mission said 17 children were killed and 166 injured in July — the highest monthly total of child casualties since April 2022.
Long-range Russian strikes with missiles and drones were the leading cause of civilian deaths and injuries, accounting for 38% of all casualties. Most of these attacks occurred far from the front line, including in major cities.
Short-range drone strikes in front-line areas killed 111 people and injured 710 others — the highest monthly toll since the full-scale war began.
Airstrikes killed 105 civilians and injured 753 in July, a 143% rise in casualties over the previous month.
The UN also recorded a sharp rise in Russian attacks on ships and port infrastructure in the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions, counting at least 39 such attacks in July, including at least 20 strikes on ships. Those attacks killed 19 people and injured 25.
The UN said the attacks are already hurting international shipments of goods and agricultural products through the Black Sea.
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