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Why is the situation worsening?
Civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine rose by more than one-third during the first half of 2026, according to the UN Human Rights Office, Reuters reports.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, 1,396 civilians were killed and 7,978 injured in Ukraine between January and June. That represents a 37% increase compared with the same period last year and nearly double the number recorded in the first half of 2024.
Short-range drone attacks have driven a particularly sharp rise in casualties. Over the six months, such strikes killed 418 civilians and injured another 2,437 people. By comparison, during the same period in 2025, short-range drone attacks killed 218 civilians and wounded 1,511.
Why civilian casualties are rising
Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said two key factors have driven the escalation.
"This escalation is being driven by two main reasons. The first is long-range ballistic missiles and drones, and the second by short-range drones and glide bombs in the frontline areas," Bell said during a briefing in Kyiv.
According to her, the attacks are increasingly affecting not only civilians but also the functioning of cities and communities.
"These attacks are gradually destroying the systems that sustain civilian lives and allow communities to function," she said.
Earlier, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said Russia has not reduced its use of drones but has instead changed its attack tactics.
According to Ihnat, Russian forces are increasingly combining drone strikes with ballistic missile attacks and are now launching drones during the day as well as at night, placing constant pressure on Ukraine's air defense systems.
