Ukraine's monthly civilian casualties highest since 2022
UN monitors say civilian casualties in Ukraine hit their highest monthly level since the start of Russia's full-scale war. The latest attacks included a Russian drone strike on a train, killing two workers. DW has more.
Civilian casualties in Ukraine reached their highest monthly level since the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, according to the United Nations. In July, at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured, a 30% increase from June and 70% more than the previous July. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified the deaths and injuries, noting that the true toll likely exceeds these figures as some reports are still being verified.
Long-range missiles and drones were the primary cause of civilian casualties, accounting for 38% and 27% of the total, respectively. Russia conducted 429 missile strikes in July, more than double the June figure. The deadliest attack occurred on July 2 when Russian forces launched 74 missiles and nearly 500 drones, primarily targeting Kyiv, killing 30 civilians and injuring 104.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike, alleging the operator knowingly targeted a civilian train. Over the past year, Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukraine's railway infrastructure, disrupting transport and logistics and directly attacking civilians. Zelenskyy called for enhanced air defenses and stronger international pressure on Moscow.
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