KYIV, Ukraine, May 18, 2026 — Following one of the largest aerial attacks since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) strongly condemns the escalating wave of Russian missile and drone strikes on major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava. CIVIC calls for renewed efforts to protect civilians from mounting harm.
“The scale and frequency of these attacks underscore the devastating reality facing civilians across Ukraine,” said Joanne La Terriere, CIVIC Ukraine Country Director. Beyond the immediate loss of life and injury, repeated strikes in the middle of major cities are eroding the essential systems that sustain communities—from healthcare and education to emergency response and electricity.”
The recent attacks show a disturbing expansion in both scale and tactics. During the overnight attack on June 2, Russia launched 729 aerial weapons, including 73 missiles and 656 drones, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The attack affected major cities and other populated areas across Ukraine and reportedly included eight Zircon hypersonic missiles, which appeared to be the largest number of such missiles used in a single attack since the start of the war.
The strikes damaged homes, schools, kindergartens, medical facilities, businesses and public institutions. In Kyiv region, an earlier large-scale attack on May 24 also struck emergency response infrastructure, disrupting service civilians rely on during times of crisis. This escalation comes amid one of the deadliest recent periods for civilians in Ukraine. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, at least 238 civilians were killed and 1,404 injured in April 2026, marking the highest monthly civilian casualty toll since July 2025.
For families across Ukraine, these repeated attacks mean nights spent in corridors, shelters, metro stations, and basements instead of their own beds. It means parents waking children in the middle of the night, older people struggling to reach safe spaces, and people with disabilities facing additional barriers to protection, ” – said Joanne La Terriere, CIVIC Ukraine Country Director.
CIVIC calls for an immediate end to attacks that kill and injure civilians and damage critical civilian infrastructure. Recent strikes demonstrate once again the grave risks associated with the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, where the effects of blast and fragmentation can extend well beyond the intended military target. Therefore, their use in populated areas should be avoided.
For additional information or media inquiries, please contact:
- CIVIC’s Global Media Team: [email protected]
- CIVIC Ukraine Communications Officer: Liudmyla Gitsevych, +380 96 737 7810, [email protected]
Spokespersons available for interviews in English, Ukrainian, and French
