Civilian casualties from Russian strikes on Ukraine up 55% — UN
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REUTERS/Serhii Korovainyi
Civilian casualties
from Russian long-range weapons attacks in Ukraine rose 55% from January
through September 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, the UN Independent
International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine stated
on Sept. 21.
Erik Møse, chair of the commission, delivered the statement during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Møse said the increase was primarily driven by intensified Russian long-range attacks on residential areas and populated communities. More than 17,000 civilians have been killed and nearly 54,000 injured since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Russian media channels continue to post videos and texts that show the intentional targeting of civilians by drones and even brag about it,” Møse said.
“The Commission recalls that in its reports from 2025, it concluded that Russian armed forces’ systematic attacks using short-range drones along the right bank of the Dnipro River amounted to crimes against humanity and were committed with the purpose of spreading terror among the civilian population, in violation of international humanitarian law.”
The commission also warned about the consequences of Russia’s destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Last winter, millions of civilians were left without electricity and heating for weeks, while temperatures in some apartments fell to dangerous levels.
He said Russia has also ignored 41 requests from the UN
commission containing detailed questions about investigations that have been
sent since 2022.
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