Civilian casualties in Ukraine in July reached their highest level since the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion, as Russian forces intensified long-range missile and drone strikes on towns and cities far from the front line, the UN said in a report published Friday.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine confirmed that at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured last month, the highest toll in any month since March 2022. The figures represent a 30% jump from June and a 70% increase compared to July 2025.
Long-range weapons, including cruise and ballistic missiles and drones, remained the primary cause of civilian casualties, accounting for 38% of all deaths and injuries in July.
"Most casualties from these weapons occurred far from the front line in urban centers," the UN report read.
In recent months, Russia has stepped up attacks using ballistic missiles, which fly at high speeds along steep trajectories that make them far harder to intercept than drones or cruise missiles.
