The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has published a monthly report recording a sharp deterioration in the security situation for civilians. According to verified data, at least 328 civilians were killed and another 2,105 people were injured as a result of Russian attacks in September 2026. The total number of dead and injured exceeded the figures for September 2025 by 85%, when the mission recorded 249 deaths and 1,068 injuries. As the UN notes, the escalation of attacks across the country continued the trend of 2026, in which the number of civilian casualties significantly exceeds the levels of previous years.

Geography of losses: 22 regions and Kyiv

Casualties were recorded in 22 regions of Ukraine and in Kyiv. The highest number of victims was registered in the capital, as well as in Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia. Of particular concern is the situation in Kyiv: in September, civilian casualties were recorded on 22 out of the month's 30 days. According to HRMMU estimates, this is the most frequent monthly figure since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

October: "some of the deadliest weeks"

The high level of losses persisted into October as well. On the night of October 7, Russian troops launched cruise missile and drone strikes against several regions. One of the most tragic episodes was a strike on Pryluky in the Chernihiv region, where 22 civilians were killed and another 45 people were injured. The mission also documented high-casualty attacks in Kramatorsk (October 8), Zaporizhzhia (October 10), and Lutsk (October 14). "The first two weeks of October were among the deadliest for civilians in recent years," said HRMMU Head Danielle Bell, emphasizing that just a few days into the month, attacks caused mass casualties in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kramatorsk, and Kyiv.

Occupied territories: data incomplete

In territories temporarily occupied by Russia, the deaths of 18 civilians and injuries to another 44 people were confirmed in September. The HRMMU emphasizes that the actual number of victims there is likely much higher: due to a lack of access to these areas and independent sources of information, verifying all reports of attacks is extremely difficult.

Strikes on energy infrastructure amid the approach of winter

The rise in casualties coincided with a resumption of systematic attacks on energy infrastructure. In late August, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced preparations for "massive strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities." On September 30, an attack damaged generation, distribution, and transmission facilities in three regions and Kyiv, causing emergency power outages. On the night of October 14, strikes were once again launched against energy and heating facilities across the country, including Kyiv's three main power plants; according to Ukrainian authorities, about 600,000 residents of the capital were temporarily left without electricity. Simultaneously, according to statistics from the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian military carried out 82 attacks on energy and heating infrastructure in the occupied territories and in Russia. The HRMMU warns that systematic strikes on energy infrastructure ahead of winter could exacerbate civilian suffering by creating additional risks during the cold period.

Total for the first eight months of 2026

According to the UN, at least 2,222 civilians were killed and 13,058 others were injured in Ukraine during the first eight months of 2026. The total number of dead and injured exceeded the figure for the same period last year by 55%, which, according to the mission's assessment, indicates a record high level of civilian casualties.