Kyiv, 6 July 2026 – The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) is following up on the serious human rights consequences of last night’s large-scale missile and drone attack by the Russian Federation on Kyiv City and Kyiv region, where according to Ukrainian authorities, at least 14 civilians were killed and over 80 injured.
The attack forms part of a continuing pattern of strikes using long-range missiles and drones against densely populated civilian areas, far from the frontline.
“Last night’s attack by the Russian Federation reflects the continued use of long-range missiles and drones in populated areas, where they pose a significant risk to civilians,” said Danielle Bell, Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. “The sustained use of these weapons, together with continued short-range drone attacks, is a key driver in the increase in civilian casualties documented by UN Human Rights this year.”
In Kyiv City, reportedly at least 11 civilians were killed and around 60 injured, including five children. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing at several impact sites, and the casualty toll may rise as people are believed to remain trapped under the rubble.
Elsewhere in Kyiv region, 3 civilians were reportedly killed and 26 injured, including 2 children. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were damaged across multiple locations.
In the first six months of 2026, verified civilian casualties were already significantly higher than during the same period in 2025, which had itself shown a substantial increase compared with 2024.
The first days of July have already seen an extremely high reported number of civilian casualties, averaging around 170 civilian casualties per day. The daily use of long-range weapons, including missiles, drones and guided aerial bombs, in attacks such as those affecting Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and Sumy, together with continued short-range drone attacks, including in the recent strikes in Kherson City and occupied Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region, points to a further escalation in civilian harm.
HRMMU is monitoring the consequences of the attack, visiting impact sites, and following up with the authorities and hospitals to verify civilian casualties and document damage to civilian objects. The Mission will provide further updates as additional information becomes available.
