Attacks on residential areas, critical infrastructure, and public facilities in Ukraine have reached an exceptionally high level in recent months. According to UN data, 8,330 civilians were killed or injured between July and September 2026. This represents a 90% increase compared to the same period last year. The humanitarian organization Handicap International (HI) strongly condemns in a report the devastating suffering inflicted upon the civilian population through the bombing and shelling of towns and villages in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
In the report, Handicap International also publishes a chronology of the worst attacks on the civilian population. Additionally, it includes a list of the deadliest types of weapons. Information about attacks by Ukrainian forces is also included.
The following interview partners are available:
- Danila Zizi, Country Director of Handicap International Ukraine (in English)
- Elliot de Faramond, Advisor for Disarmament and Conflicts, Handicap International (in English or French)
July: The Deadliest Month Since May 2022 Alone in July, 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured, making it the deadliest month since May 2022. In total, more civilians were killed and injured across Ukraine in the first eight months of 2026 than in the entire year of 2025. Since the full-scale invasion began, at least 73,451 civilians have been killed or injured.
Over 16,000 Drones in Three Months Against Ukraine Between July and September 2026, Russian forces launched 16,086 long-range drones against targets in Ukraine, marking one of the most intense phases of the drone war during the conflict. The ongoing attacks with missiles, drones, bombs, and artillery cause significant human suffering, devastate livelihoods, and force families to flee. Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are particularly affected.
"Life in Kyiv is no longer life - it is survival." "Life in Kyiv is constant uncertainty: you don't know if you'll wake up alive or get to work safely in the absence of shelters nearby and when the power plant next to the metro station is repeatedly attacked. It means reading Harry Potter to your child in the evening, only to be abruptly interrupted by explosions through the window and rushing to the hallway. It means watching an apartment block burn just a kilometer away and comforting yourself that the playground beneath did not claim children's lives. It means seeing tears of fear in your child's eyes every day. Life in Kyiv is no longer life - it is survival." - Inna, HI Finance Officer, Kyiv, September 2026.
Handicap International (HI) calls on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and its principles to ensure the protection of the civilian population as well as humanitarian aid workers and healthcare personnel at all times. The true extent of the damage to the civilian population, both in terms of casualties and infrastructure, is likely much higher, as many reports of civilian injuries or deaths cannot be verified due to the lack of access to areas near the frontline and regions under Russian control.
Press Contact:
Pauline Wilhelm
Handicap International Switzerland
Communications and Media Officer
p.wilhelm@hi.org
022 710 93 36
www.handicap-international.ch