August in Ukraine: Second deadliest month this year for civilians
Dramatic reports from Ukraine. August was the second deadliest month this year in terms of civilian casualties caused by Russian forces, according to a UN report.
At least 184 civilians were killed and 856 were injured in Ukraine in August, reported the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. Over 90% of the civilian casualties were in areas controlled by Ukraine.
August was the second month with the highest civilian casualties in 2024. July was "the deadliest month for civilians" since October 2022, according to the previous report.
The biggest attack since the beginning of the invasion
One of the most severe incidents was a Russian missile attack on a supermarket in the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. On August 9, 14 people were killed, and another 44 were injured.
On August 26, Russia launched the most significant attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, hitting 15 regions across the country. According to the report, at least 25 energy facilities, including part of the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant, were damaged. Eight civilians were killed in the attack, and 23 people were injured.
On August 30, Russia launched a decisive strike on Kharkiv. As a result of the shelling, seven people were killed, and over 90 were injured.
Thousands of civilian deaths
The UN estimates that since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, at least 11,743 civilians have been killed, and 24,614 have been injured. The actual number of civilian casualties is probably much higher.
The number of killed and injured in the fighting immediately after Russia's attack on Ukraine has not yet been fully counted. Some areas where the heaviest fighting took place at the beginning of 2022 remain under Russian occupation, making it nearly impossible for external observers to examine them.
