The UN reported a sharp increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine
In the first half of 2026, the number of civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine rose significantly. According to the UN, casualties rose by 37% over the six-month period compared to the same period last year, with massive drone and missile attacks being one of the main causes.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has released new data on civilian casualties in Ukraine. According to the report, from January through June 2026, the number of civilian deaths and injuries rose significantly compared to previous years. According to the organization, 1,396 civilians were killed and another 7,978 were injured during the first six months of the year.
Compared to the same period in 2025, the number of casualties rose by 37%. Compared to the first half of 2024, this figure nearly doubled. The UN notes that drone strikes were one of the main factors behind this increase. Over the course of six months, short-range drones claimed the lives of 418 civilians, and another 2,437 people were injured.
By comparison, during the same period last year, 218 people were killed and 1,511 were injured in attacks by such drones. Daniel Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, explained that the current increase in casualties is linked to several types of weapons. “This escalation is driven by two main factors. The first is long-range ballistic missiles and drones, and the second is short-range drones and glide bombs in frontline areas,” she said during a briefing in Kyiv.
According to Bell, the consequences of such attacks extend far beyond human casualties. They are increasingly affecting people’s daily lives and the functioning of entire communities. “These attacks are gradually destroying the systems that sustain civilian life and enable communities to function,” the UN representative emphasized.
The report also notes that the situation remains particularly dangerous both in frontline areas, where guided aerial bombs and FPV drones are actively used, and in major cities, which are regularly targeted by long-range missiles and drones.
The UN stresses that the rising number of civilian deaths and injuries indicates a deterioration in the security situation in Ukraine. The organization continues to document the consequences of the attacks and calls for compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of the civilian population. Reuters reports this, citing UN data.
The Ukrainian company “Blyskavka” is working on a new version of the “Blyskavka-2” drone, which will perform reconnaissance missions. At the same time, the drone will retain the capability to strike targets.
