UN: A record number of civilian deaths were recorded in Ukraine in June
According to preliminary UN data, at least 265 civilians were killed in Ukraine in June 2026, and another 1,816 were injured. The United Nations noted that these are the highest monthly figures among the civilian population since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, made this statement at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
According to DiCarlo, the previous record was set in May 2026, which had previously been considered the bloodiest month of the war. However, June’s figures surpassed it: the number of civilian deaths and injuries broke all monthly records since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The diplomat warned that this negative trend has not stopped with the onset of summer. “This alarming trend continues into July,” DiCarlo said, highlighting the attacks on July 2, 6, and 8. According to her, these attacks demonstrate a “clear pattern,” as they targeted urban centers and claimed the lives of a large number of civilians.
In total, since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to confirmed UN data, at least 16,402 civilians have been killed in Ukraine, including 802 children. A total of 48,428 civilians have been injured, including 2,948 children. DiCarlo clarified that these figures account only for confirmed cases, and the actual numbers are likely much higher.
The diplomat called for an immediate, complete, and unconditional ceasefire. “There is no military solution that can ensure lasting peace,” DiCarlo stated, adding that this must lead to a just and comprehensive peace in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.
As a reminder, a Russian strike destroyedthe office of a Kyiv-based children’s book publisher.
Russian forces struck Kharkiv and the surrounding region; four children were among the wounded.
