Ukraine has recently experienced a surge in civilian casualties, with the highest monthly number documented in almost a year. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported a significant increase of at least 31% in civilian deaths in May compared to April. The northeastern region of Kharkiv has been particularly affected by Russia's sweeping offensive.
More than half of the deaths in May occurred in Kharkiv city and the surrounding area, where Russian forces launched a ground attack on May 10. The head of the monitoring mission attributed the rise in casualties to Russia's use of air-dropped bombs and missiles in populated areas near the frontline and Kharkiv city.
The intensity of Russia's assault on Kharkiv prompted the US to authorize Kyiv to conduct strikes from Kharkiv into Russia using allied-made weapons. Recent attacks in the region include an incident at a printing house in Kharkiv city on May 21 that resulted in civilian casualties, as well as a strike on a large home improvement center in the city on May 25 that claimed the lives of 19 civilians.
The UN monitoring mission emphasized the vulnerability of civilians engaged in everyday activities in the midst of conflict. The attacks serve as a stark reminder that even routine tasks like purchasing supplies for home repairs can lead to tragic loss of life and loved ones.
