In May 2026, more civilians were killed or injured in Ukraine as a result of Russia's war than in any other month since the start of the full-scale invasion, UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reports.
HRMMU has verified that at least 274 people were killed and 1,763 others injured over the month.
It said the main reason for the high number of casualties last month was the use of powerful weapons by Russian forces in urban areas, which killed and injured dozens of people on multiple occasions.
For example, 12 civilians were killed and 42 others injured in a Russian attack using aerial bombs on Zaporizhzhia on 5 May. On 14 May, a Russian missile struck an apartment block in Kyiv, killing 24 people.
The intensification of hostilities has also contributed to civilian casualties. The UN noted that in previous years the number of casualties has consistently risen in spring and summer. This trend has continued in 2026, but the casualty figures have increased significantly.
Quote from Danielle Bell, head of HRMMU: "The civilian harm we documented was not limited to communities near the front line. In cities across Ukraine, repeated attacks with missiles and aerial bombs killed and injured civilians far from areas of active ground combat."
