Last month, the number of civilian deaths in Ukraine increased, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). The death toll in May is the highest since June 2023, as reported by Reuters.
In May, 174 civilians were killed, which represents a 31% increase compared to April.
Russia launched an offensive in the Charkiv region in May. Sometimes, civilian infrastructure has been hit in the attacks, according to the report. One of the events mentioned is a Russian attack on a department store at the end of May, in which 19 civilians were killed.
"Even everyday tasks, such as buying materials to repair damaged homes, can result in lives being lost," says Danielle Bell, head of the organization, according to the news agency.
During Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for more than two years, both countries have denied targeting civilians.