Long-range missiles and drones drive 45% of Ukraine civilian casualties as urban strikes escalate

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that long-range ballistic missiles and drones accounted for 45 percent of civilian casualties in the first half of 2026. Mission head Danielle Bell attributed the toll to weapons "affecting densely populated urban areas that are far away from the front line." Casualties rose each month, reaching 1,396 killed and 7,978 wounded, up 37 percent from 2025.