Deadliest month of war. UN alarmed by civilian deaths in Ukraine in June
Photo: June 2026 became the deadliest month for civilians since the start of the full-scale war (Getty Images)
June surpasses May's record high
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said that May 2026 had already been the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Preliminary data for June showed an even higher toll.
"Preliminary figures for June indicate an even higher toll, with at least 265 people killed and 1,816 injured. This concerning trend is seemingly continuing into July," she said.
According to DiCarlo, the attacks on July 2, 6, and 8 demonstrate a "clear pattern" of strikes targeting densely populated urban areas and destroying residential buildings.
Overall civilian losses during the war
According to verified UN data, at least 16,402 civilians, including 802 children, have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. Another 48,428 civilians have been injured, including 2,948 children.
"These figures account only for verified casualties. Actual figures are likely significantly higher," DiCarlo noted.
'Acts of desperation in a failing war'
Latvia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, presented even more recent figures: Russian strikes killed 93 Ukrainian civilians and injured more than 500 others in just the first seven days of July.
The diplomat drew a clear distinction between the actions of the two sides in the war: Ukraine is lawfully striking Russian military targets, while Russia is targeting residential buildings and densely populated neighborhoods in Ukrainian cities.
"These are acts of desperation, a symbol of a failed war that leads nowhere. In recent months, Ukraine has conducted an effective campaign of strikes against Russia's military targets, warehouses, military logistics hubs, and energy infrastructure that supplies the Russian war economy. By doing so, Ukraine exercises its legitimate right to self-defense against aggression in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter. In contrast, Russia bombards residential buildings, residential areas, and cultural sites," she said.
Pavļuta-Deslandes stressed that Ukraine urgently needs additional air defense systems to protect civilians.
Call for a ceasefire
DiCarlo, for her part, called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, emphasizing that "there is no military solution capable of securing lasting peace" in Ukraine.
"An immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire cannot be delayed any further. That ceasefire must lead to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, in line with the UN Charter, international law, and relevant UN resolutions," she said.
Ukraine convened the latest UN Security Council meeting on an emergency basis following Russia's massive strike on Kyiv on July 6.
Earlier, at another Security Council meeting, Russia was officially added to the UN's "list of shame" for the killing of Ukrainian children and conflict-related sexual violence, alongside ISIS and al-Qaeda.
