UN recorded a record number of civilian casualties in Ukraine in May 2026
Kyiv • UNN
In May, 274 civilians were killed and 1,763 were injured. This is the highest casualty rate among the population since April 2022.
In May 2026, more civilians were killed and injured in Ukraine than in any other month in the last four years. This was reported by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) in its monthly report on civilian casualties, UNN reports.
Details
HRMMU confirmed that at least 274 civilians were killed and 1,763 were injured in Ukraine in May as a result of conflict-related violence.
The total number of civilian casualties in May exceeded 2,000, making it the month with the highest number of civilian casualties since April 2022. The intensification of hostilities and the increasing use of powerful weapons in urban areas have led to a high number of civilian deaths and injuries across the country,
It is noted that in previous years, the number of casualties in spring and summer steadily increased month by month. The 2026 figures are currently following this trend, but at a significantly higher level than in previous years.
The main reason for the high number of casualties in May was the use of powerful weapons in urban areas by the Russian Federation. Attacks using missiles and aerial bombs in urban areas repeatedly resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians,
It is noted that the harm caused to civilians was not limited to communities near the front line. Thus, in cities across Ukraine, repeated attacks using missiles and aerial bombs led to the deaths and injuries of civilians far from areas of active ground combat.
As a reminder
The United Nations stated there is a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine following the latest large-scale Russian strikes and threats of new attacks.