Civilian deaths in Ukraine hit highest since May 2022 in July: UN
KYIV: The number of civilians killed in Ukraine in July jumped to its highest level since the first months of the Russian invasion, the United Nations said Thursday, as Moscow intensified its long-range missile strikes.
In July, the number of civilians killed in Ukraine surged to its highest level since the early days of the Russian invasion, according to the United Nations. Russian long-range missile strikes intensified during the month, with Kyiv's air force reporting a record number of ballistic missiles raining down on the Ukrainian capital.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported that 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in July, marking a 30% increase from the previous month and a 70% increase compared to July 2022. This is the highest recorded number of civilian deaths since May 2022. The conflict has become Europe's deadliest since World War II, with hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides.
Despite US-led efforts to end the fighting, progress has been minimal. The UN has verified the deaths of 16,874 civilians since the invasion, though estimates likely underestimate the true toll, especially in Russian-occupied areas like Mariupol. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for more advanced air defense systems to counter the deadly missiles.
In Kyiv, 54 civilians were killed, one of the hardest hit cities. Initially relatively protected, the capital has become more exposed due to shortages of air defense and escalating Russian attacks. Russian authorities also reported a higher civilian death toll, but the UN could not independently verify these figures due to access limitations.
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