Kayoko Gotoh, director for Europe and Central Asia Division, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, linked attacks on population centers to Ukraine’s highest September civilian toll since the 2022 invasion.
In remarks to the U.N. Security Council, Gotoh said “millions of Ukrainian civilians remain under constant fire.” The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine recorded 328 civilian deaths and 2,105 injuries in September 2026. That combined total was 85% above September 2025, and no September since Russia’s full-scale invasion began had a higher verified toll. The tally covered 22 Ukrainian regions and Kyiv.
Gotoh cited intensified Russian attacks on population centers and civilian infrastructure. The mission attributed 53% of September casualties to long-range weapons and 23% to short-range drones. It said verification is continuing and warned that limited access to some areas could leave the final toll higher.
Gotoh described a six-day local ceasefire in Oleshky as the longest since 2022 and said it was fully implemented. EconoTimes previously covered the Oleshky truce and evacuation effort.
She urged the parties to use planned trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11 to make progress.
