UN: May 2026 was deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since 2022

The United Nations has reported a sharp rise in civilian casualties in Ukraine, with May 2026 becoming the deadliest month for civilians in more than four years amid intensified Russian airstrikes.

Addressing a meeting of the UN Security Council, Mohamed Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, cited figures from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights showing that at least 274 civilians were killed and 1,763 injured in Ukraine during May.

“This is the highest monthly toll of deaths and injuries since April 2022,” Khiari told council members.

According to UN data, at least 16,126 civilians have been confirmed killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The death toll includes 796 children.

The UN has also recorded 46,590 civilian casualties, including 2,835 children who were injured during the conflict. UN officials cautioned that the actual number of deaths and injuries is likely to be significantly higher, as many cases in areas affected by fighting have yet to be independently verified.

By Sabina Mammadli