Fact Check: Russia's aerial attacks on Ukraine are intensifying as civilian death toll rises

Fact Check: "Russia's aerial attacks on Ukraine are intensifying as civilian death toll rises"

What We Know

Recent reports indicate a significant escalation in Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine, leading to a rising civilian death toll. According to a statement from Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and Americas, the Security Council noted that "unrelenting, large-scale Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns" have resulted in a substantial increase in civilian casualties, with the first five months of 2025 seeing a nearly 50% rise in civilian deaths compared to the same period in 2024 (source-1).

In June 2025, attacks on Kyiv resulted in at least 28 civilian deaths and over 130 injuries, marking one of the deadliest assaults on the capital in nearly a year (source-1). Furthermore, a report from the Public International Law and Policy Group highlights that Russia's attacks have continued to indiscriminately target civilians, with a notable incident in October 2023 resulting in the deaths of at least 51 people in Hroza (source-2).

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that in October 2023 alone, Russia launched over 2,000 drones at Ukraine, contributing to a civilian death toll that reached nearly 200 in that month (source-5).

Analysis

The evidence presented from various credible sources supports the claim that Russia's aerial attacks on Ukraine are intensifying and causing a rising civilian death toll. The United Nations and multiple human rights organizations have documented these attacks, emphasizing their indiscriminate nature and the resulting civilian casualties (source-2).

The reliability of these sources is bolstered by their institutional backgrounds; for instance, the UN Security Council's reports are based on verified data and testimonies from humanitarian agencies operating in the region. Additionally, reports from reputable news organizations like PBS and the Kyiv Independent corroborate the rising death toll and the scale of attacks (source-3, source-5).

However, it is essential to recognize potential biases in reporting, particularly from sources that may have a vested interest in portraying the conflict in a specific light. Nonetheless, the consistency of reports across multiple independent sources lends credibility to the assertion that civilian casualties are rising due to intensified aerial bombardments.

Conclusion

The claim that "Russia's aerial attacks on Ukraine are intensifying as civilian death toll rises" is True. The evidence from various credible sources indicates a marked increase in both the frequency and lethality of Russian aerial assaults on civilian targets in Ukraine, leading to a significant rise in civilian casualties.

Sources

1. Despite Deadly Russian Aerial Attacks in Kyiv, Ukraine, Speakers in Security Council Voice Hope Diplomatic Efforts towards Ceasefire Will Gain Ground. UN Press Release
2. Targeting the Innocent: Russia's Continued Attacks on Ukrainian Civilians. Public International Law and Policy Group
3. Kyiv rescuers continue to find more bodies as death toll from latest Russian aerial attack climbs to 28. PBS News
4. Russian attacks on Ukraine kill at least 6 and injure over a dozen. ABC News
5. Russian attacks on Ukraine in October killed nearly 200, injured over 900 civilians. Kyiv Independent
6. UN condemns deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainian capital as civilian casualties rise. UN News
7. The war in maps: Open source data reveals scale of damage to Ukraine's infrastructure. Info-Res
8. Russia unleashes its largest air attack of war, killing at least 12. CBC News