May Deadliest Month for Ukrainian Civilians Since April 2022, UN Reports

May was the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since April 2022, according to the United Nations, which presented updated casualty data to the UN Security Council on June 8. Latvian UN envoy Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes stated preliminary figures show a sharp rise in civilian harm, expecting final statistics for May to be even higher.

Attacks in May included strikes on civilian gatherings, such as a funeral in Sumy. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 190 attacks were recorded on medical facilities, including maternity hospitals, and over 200 educational institutions were damaged or destroyed. The number of injured children increased by 49%.

Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN, Andrii Melnyk, criticized Russia for systematic deception, denying responsibility and undermining international reporting. Melnyk suggested Russia should leave the UN if it rejects its obligations and dismisses investigative findings. He also called for Russia's exclusion from UN peacekeeping operations, citing its inclusion in listings related to sexual violence in conflict and violations involving children.