Russia’s Strikes on Ukrainian Civilians Reach Their Deadliest Level in More Than Four Years

Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians are becoming increasingly deadly, with July recording the highest monthly civilian casualty toll since May 2022, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said on October 7.

Speaking during an interactive dialogue with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Lubinets said Russian strikes killed 437 civilians in July alone and wounded another 2,610 people.

The broader trend is even more severe: during the first eight months of 2026, Russian attacks killed and wounded more Ukrainian civilians than during all of 2025.

According to the ombudsman, the figures represent the highest monthly level of civilian casualties in more than four years.

The growing toll comes alongside extensive damage to civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, 4,661 educational institutions, 2,671 medical facilities, and 1,990 cultural heritage sites have been damaged or destroyed, Lubinets said.

He urged the international community to continue documenting Russian strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure, strengthen measures aimed at protecting the population, and support the reconstruction of damaged facilities.

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Lubinets also stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable and called for an appropriate international legal assessment of Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure.

Earlier, reports emerged that Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered his military leadership in September to abandon previous restraints on air attacks against Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian intelligence learned that Putin issued the directive as Russia began sharply intensifying strikes against civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and data centers.

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