The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission has documented a significant surge in civilian casualties across Ukraine during July, marking the deadliest month since the early stages of Russia’s 2022 invasion. According to the UN report, at least 437 civilians lost their lives and approximately 2,610 sustained injuries throughout the month. These figures represent a 30 percent jump from June and a 70 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The UN cautioned that verified casualty numbers likely underestimate the true toll, as the organization cannot access comprehensive data from Russian-controlled territories. The capital city of Kyiv emerged as one of the hardest-hit areas, with 54 civilian deaths recorded in July alone. Since the conflict began, the UN has verified nearly 16,875 civilian deaths, though actual numbers are believed to be considerably higher.
Recent attacks underscore the ongoing toll on civilians. A Russian drone strike on a passenger train in the Odesa region killed two crew members, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported over 130 attack drones deployed against 11 regions in a single night. In response, Zelenskyy renewed calls for advanced air defense systems from Western allies, particularly emphasizing the need for additional U.S. Patriot systems to counter Russia’s ballistic missile threat.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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