June Marks Highest Civilian Death Toll in Ukraine in Three Years – UN

Civilian casualties in Ukraine reached their highest level in three years in June, according to a new report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). The report documented 232 deaths and 1,343 injuries among civilians last month, The Gaze reports.

The surge in casualties is attributed to a tenfold increase in Russian missile and drone attacks compared to June 2024. “Almost no region of Ukraine was spared, regardless of proximity to the front line,” said HRMMU Head Danielle Bell. Civilian casualties were recorded in at least 16 regions and Kyiv.

“Civilians across Ukraine are suffering in ways we haven’t seen in over three years,” Bell noted. “The growing use of long-range missiles and drones has brought death and destruction even to areas far from the battlefield.”

The violence has continued into July. In a massive overnight attack on Kyiv, Russia reportedly launched 397 Shahed drones, decoy drones, and 18 high-powered missiles, killing two people and injuring at least 16.

“Children are sleeping not in beds, but in corridors, basements, or bathrooms, covering their ears to block out the sound of sirens and explosions. These experiences leave deep psychological scars,” Bell added.

The UN report shows that in the first half of 2025, civilian casualties totaled 6,754 — a 54% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Civilian deaths rose by 17%, while injuries surged by 64%.

According to the mission, Russia’s widespread use of powerful long-range missiles and drones, combined with their increasing destructiveness, is the main factor behind the rising civilian toll. Short-range drone attacks also continue to kill near frontline areas.

“In many regions, daily life has become a constant search for shelter,” Bell said. “People spend hours in bunkers, only to emerge and find their homes or workplaces destroyed. This cycle of hiding and loss has become a harsh routine.”

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, the UN has verified at least 13,580 civilian deaths, including 716 children, and 34,115 injuries, including 2,173 children.

As The Gaze previously reported, on July 9, Russia launched its most massive aerial offensive against Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, firing a staggering 741 air attack assets overnight.