Russia killed more civilians in Ukraine during the summer of 2026 than at any other point since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Omissions

• The claim omits the 2022 baseline: OHCHR recorded around 4,312 civilians killed in March 2022 alone, which is roughly four times the entire summer 2026 total (~1,107 killed), so summer 2026 is not the deadliest period since the invasion.
• The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission explicitly framed July 2026 as the highest monthly toll 'since March 2022' (some sources say 'since May 2022'), not since February 2022 — a nuance the MEP's superlative ('more than at any point since the start of the full-scale war') erases.
• The escalation in 2026 is real: the first half of 2026 recorded 1,396 civilian deaths, a 37% rise on the same period in 2025, but this is a rise over recent years, not a record since the start of the war.

Sources

• PrimaryUN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (OHCHR) — Protection of Civilians, July 2026At least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July 2026, a 30 per cent increase compared to June 2026 (298 killed; 2,041 injured).
• PrimaryUN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (OHCHR) — highest monthly number since March 2022UN human rights monitors report the highest monthly number of civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine since March 2022. Overall, since 24 February 2022, OHCHR has verified at least 16,874 civilians killed, including 820 children, and 51,273 injured.
• SecondaryStatista — Ukraine war civilian casualties monthly (based on OHCHR data)The highest number of civilian casualties ... was recorded in March 2022, with 4312 people killed and 3018 injured. In August 2026, 372 civilian deaths were verified by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
• SecondaryUnited Nations in Ukraine — Civilian Casualties Soar in Ukraine in the First Half of 2026In all, 1,396 civilians died and 7,978 suffered injuries in the first six months of this year, a 37 per cent rise from the same period in 2025.