Civilian casualties in June rose by 10 per cent compared with May, when 282 people were killedRussian attacks across Ukraine pushed civilian casualties to their highest monthly level since April 2022, with at least 293 people killed and 1,990 injured in June 2026, according to a new report by the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).The UN said the surge was driven by intensified long-range missile and drone strikes on cities far from the frontline, alongside a record rise in casualties caused by short-range drones near combat zones.The findings, released by the UN HRMMU, show that civilian casualties in June rose by 10 per cent compared with May, when 282 people were killed and 1,794 injured. The toll was also 37 per cent higher than in June 2025, marking the deadliest month for civilians in more than four years of the war.Civilian casualties continue to rise after more than 4 yearsThe latest figures continue a worsening trend seen throughout 2026. During the first six months of the year, 1,396 civilians were killed and 7,978 injured, representing a 37 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025 and more than double the total recorded during the first half of 2024.The UN findings come as Russia has intensified large-scale missile and drone barrages in recent months, increasing pressure on Ukraine's air defences and exposing civilians in cities far from the frontline to growing risks, even as fighting continues along the eastern and southern fronts.Worst-hit regions across UkraineThe overwhelming majority of civilian casualties occurred in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government. Civilians were killed or injured across 13 regions and the city of Kyiv.Zaporizhzhia recorded the highest overall toll, with 23 people killed and 229 injured, followed by Kherson with 18 killed and 236 injured. Dnipro reported 25 deaths and 77 injuries, while Kyiv recorded 11 deaths and 112 injuries.Energy infrastructure remains under attackThe report also noted that the Russian Armed Forces continued attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure throughout June. At the same time, the UN documented a sharp increase in attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on power generation, distribution and transmission facilities in occupied Crimea. At least 12 such attacks resulted in emergency or scheduled power outages.Long-range weapons and missiles account for most casualtiesLong-range weapons, including powerful missiles and drones with wide-area effects, remained the leading cause of civilian casualties in June, accounting for 1,033 victims, including 126 killed and 907 injured. Most of these casualties occurred in major urban centres away from the frontline, including Kyiv and Dnipro, highlighting the expanding reach of Russian aerial attacks.Near the frontline, short-range drone attacks caused 89 deaths and 588 injuries, the highest monthly toll from such weapons since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Aerial bombardments killed 44 civilians and injured 280 others, while artillery shelling and multiple launch rocket system attacks caused 27 deaths and 171 injuries. Explosive remnants of war and landmines accounted for seven deaths and 44 injuries.