UN notes rise in number of civilians being killed in Ukraine by Russian attacks, with April death toll highest in 10 months

At least 238 civilians were killed and 1,404 were injured in Ukraine as a result of Russian attacks in April 2026 – the highest monthly number of civilian casualties since July 2025.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine, a Ukrainian news agency, citing data presented by Kayoko Gotoh, head of the United Nations Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, at a UN Security Council meeting on 19 May

Details: Gotoh said this reflects a continuing pattern of rising civilian harm.

She noted that last week saw one of the largest aerial bombardments of Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.

In total, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified the deaths of 15,850 civilians in Ukraine since February 2022, including 791 children. Another 44,809 people, including 2,752 children, have been injured.

Background: On 15 May, emergency workers in Kyiv completed search and rescue operations at the site of a Russian strike on an apartment block in the Darnytskyi district. As a result of the attack, 24 people were killed, including three children.

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