Ukraine civilian death toll in July highest since May 2022, says UN

In July, the death toll of civilians in Ukraine reached its highest level since the beginning of the Russian invasion, according to the United Nations. The UN reported that 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in the month, a 30% increase compared to the previous month and a 70% increase compared to July 2022. This is the highest number of civilian deaths since May 2022.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission stated that the figure is the highest recorded since the invasion began in February 2022, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties. Russia intensified its long-range missile strikes, firing a record number of hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles at Kyiv, contributing to the higher death toll.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on allies to provide advanced air defense systems, particularly US Patriots, to counter the attacks. The UN has verified 16,874 civilian deaths since the invasion, but acknowledges this is likely a significant underestimate, as it cannot confirm casualties in parts of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops, including Mariupol.

Ukrainian President Zelensky pleaded for more air defense systems to protect cities, particularly Kyiv, which saw at least 54 civilian deaths, one of the highest in the country. Despite both sides suffering significant casualties, the conflict has become Europe's deadliest since World War II, and efforts to halt the fighting have been unsuccessful.