UN signals major rise in Ukraine-Russia war civilian deaths

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 21, 2026

The United Nations reported a 37 percent increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine during the first half of 2024, with intensified long-range missile and drone attacks causing significant harm in both Ukraine and Russia. This sharp rise highlights the escalating humanitarian crisis amid stalled peace talks, as advanced weaponry increasingly targets urban and frontline areas.

Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine increased significantly during the first half of 2024, according to a United Nations report. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine documented a 37 percent rise in civilian deaths and injuries compared to the same period last year, reflecting intensified hostilities as diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-and-a-half-year war remain stalled.

Danielle Bell, head of the monitoring mission, briefed reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, stating that the mission recorded 1,396 civilian deaths and 7,978 injuries across Ukraine from January to June. She noted that these figures nearly doubled the casualties documented in the same timeframe earlier in 2024. The escalation in civilian harm has been attributed in part to the increased use of long-range ballistic missiles and drones by both sides targeting urban areas far from the front lines.

Bell cited a recent missile strike in Kyiv that destroyed a residential complex, killing 19 civilians and wounding 76 others. The use of such long-range weaponry has also resulted in rising civilian casualties inside Russia. Based on credible open-source reports from Russia, the UN reported 250 civilian deaths and 1,596 injuries within Russian territory during the same period, marking a 121 percent increase compared to 2023.

In addition to long-range attacks, the widespread deployment of short-range drones and glide bombs near frontline zones has further contributed to the rising toll on civilians. Bell emphasized the growing impact of first-person view drones (FPVs), which allow operators to see real-time footage of their targets. She highlighted a 65 percent increase in civilian casualties linked to short-range drone strikes in the first half of this year.

Bell also shared insights from recent field visits to conflict-affected regions including Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Dnipro. Residents in these areas reported feeling constantly surveilled by FPV drones during everyday activities such as gardening, walking pets, shopping, and commuting. The pervasive drone presence has fundamentally altered daily life for civilians living near the combat zones.

Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilian populations, although the continuing rise in casualties underscores the intensifying humanitarian impact of the conflict, which shows little sign of abating as military actions persist and peace negotiations remain stalled.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.