At least 15,000 civilian casualties documented in Ukraine in 2026, UN report finds

The United Nations Human Rights Office has reported that over 15,000 civilians have been killed or injured in Ukraine during the first eight months of 2026, marking a 55% increase in civilian casualties compared to the same period in 2025, according to Volker Turk, the High Commissioner. Turk spoke at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on October 2.

The UN office documented 15,280 civilians killed or injured, with nearly 2,500 of those fatalities attributed to Russian aerial glide bombs, representing a 62% increase from the previous year. The war in Ukraine is described as a growing human rights catastrophe, causing immense suffering to civilians and threatening a larger regional disaster, according to Turk.

Russian attacks on infrastructure such as schools, medical centers, apartment buildings, railways, and shops have led to a surge in civilian casualties and constant fear among the population. The UN office highlighted the escalation of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure and commercial properties like supermarkets and food companies, which will continue to impact civilians through temporary shortages of essential items as winter approaches.

Turk called on states with influence over Russia to seek peace before the situation worsens and criticized Russia's militarized economy, prioritizing death and destruction over healthcare and education. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed Turk's call for accountability, urging the implementation of the recommendations. The report also documented shocking levels of sexual violence against civilians and prisoners of war, with 89% of the 1,004 verified cases attributed to Russian forces.

The UN office emphasized the need for accountability and condemned Russia's failure to address human rights violations, stressing that the principles of the UN Charter cannot be upheld while a country illegally occupying a Security Council seat continues to violate them.