At least 139 civilians have been killed and 791 injured in Ukraine so far this month, as the country endures an unrelenting wave of missile and drone strikes by Russian forces. The scale and intensity of the attacks continue to grow, with no sign of respite for the people caught in the crossfire.
In a particularly severe overnight assault on July 12, Russia reportedly launched 597 Shahed drones, decoy drones, and 26 missiles across multiple regions. The attack killed two civilians and injured 41, with damage reported in Chernivtsi, Lviv, Cherkasy, Volyn, and Kirovohrad — areas far from the front lines.
Earlier that week, on July 9, a grim record was set: 728 long-range drones were launched against Ukraine in a single day — the highest number to date.
These latest strikes follow a devastating June, which saw the highest monthly toll of civilian casualties in the past three years: 232 people killed and 1,343 injured, according to the UN’s monitoring mission in Ukraine.
But the suffering goes beyond the numbers.
Civilians, especially children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, are enduring prolonged psychological trauma. Many are forced to shelter for hours on end in basements, corridors, or metro stations. For some, especially those with mobility challenges, even reaching shelter is impossible.
“The devastating physical and psychological impact of repeated attacks on residential areas can’t be captured by numbers alone,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. “An immediate ceasefire is needed now to end this unbearable suffering.”
Türk emphasized that any peace must be rooted in international law, and include accountability for gross human rights violations. He also called for urgent steps to:
End attacks that affect civilians Protect people living under occupation Return children who were forcibly transferred or deported Establish humanitarian corridors Stop torture and ill-treatment of prisoners
The UN continues to monitor the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs). Since June, nearly 140 Ukrainian POWs released in exchanges reported severe abuse — including beatings, electric shocks, and sexual violence — echoing patterns of systematic torture previously documented.
Russian POWs held in Ukraine have also described mistreatment, particularly in the early stages of detention. Ukrainian authorities have launched investigations into several such allegations, and the UN urges that these be handled swiftly and in accordance with international standards.
As the war rages on, the toll on civilians only grows — not just in numbers, but in broken lives, sleepless nights, and a generation forced to live under the constant threat of destruction.
