Ukraine civilian casualties up 55% in first 8 months of 2026, UN reports

UN data shows civilian casualties in Ukraine rose 55% in the first eight months of 2026 versus the same period in 2025, driven by intensified strikes on energy facilities and businesses. Damage to power plants is causing outages as winter approaches, compounding humanitarian risk. The escalation suggests a deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, with implications for Ukraine's resilience and regional stability.