The number of civilian casualties in Ukraine rose by 31% in February – UN
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has released its report for February 2026, which states that at least 188 civilians were killed and 757 were injured as a result of armed aggression.
This is stated in the new monthly report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
The statistics indicate a rapid escalation of violence by the Russian Federation: the number of victims increased by a third compared to the same period last year and was nearly double the figures for February 2024. The vast majority of casualties (97%) were recorded in territories controlled by the Ukrainian government, covering 15 regions and Kyiv.
The main causes of death remain strikes by long-range missiles and drones, which are often directed at residential areas far from the front lines. In particular, February saw a sharp increase in casualties from the use of guided aerial bombs—their number rose by 47% compared to January. As Russia continues to systematically destroy energy infrastructure, carrying out six large-scale coordinated attacks in a single month, millions of Ukrainians are facing critical disruptions in the supply of electricity, heat, and water.
UN experts emphasize that the actual number of casualties may be significantly higher due to the difficulty of verifying data in active combat zones. Constant shelling of civilian targets remains the main driver of the humanitarian crisis in the country. In addition to direct losses from explosions, prolonged power and heating outages during the winter create additional risks to the lives of vulnerable populations. Ukraine continues to call on the international community to strengthen air defense capabilities to protect civilian cities from the aggressor’s terrorist attacks.
The death toll from the Russian airstrike on residential neighborhoods in Zaporizhzhia on March 14 has risen to two. A 17-year-old boy died in the hospital from his injuries; medical staff had fought to save his life for 24 hours.
On the morning of March 11, Russian occupation forces struck the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kharkiv using a strike drone. As a result of the enemy attack on a civilian facility, a massive fire broke out, leading to casualties and numerous injuries.
