Ukraine war civilian casualties rise 37% as Kyiv prepares mass protest

Ukraine civilian casualties Kyiv protest Day of Memory for children Denis Pushilin Mykhailo Fedorov

A United Nations report says civilian deaths in Ukraine increased by 37 % in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, reflecting a deepening of the conflict. Russian air‑defence forces say they have shot down 17 guided bombs, three U.S.-made HIMARS rockets and 842 fixed‑wing drones in the last 24 hours. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met the new British prime minister, Keir Burnham, and then travelled to Washington for talks with Donald Trump. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree raising the maximum size of the armed forces by 25,000, taking the total above 1.5 million. Kyiv is gearing up for a large street protest on 31 July to oppose the dismissal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Separately, the self‑proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic observes a “Day of Memory for Children Victims of War” on 27 July, a date that marks the 2014 Grad‑rocket attack on the city of Gorlovka which killed 22 people, including four children. The commemoration was instituted by Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin.

Entities: Denis Pushilin · Mykhailo Fedorov · United Nations · Vladimir Putin · Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The commemorated date marks a 27 July 2014 missile attack by Ukrainian forces on the city of Gorlovka. (report)
[● 2 SOURCES] Russian anti‑air defenses shot down 17 guided bombs, three HIMARS rockets, and 842 fixed‑wing drones in the past 24 hours. (Russian Ministry of Defence)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The 2014 attack resulted in 22 deaths, including four children. (report)
[● 2 SOURCES] Civilian casualties in Ukraine increased by 37 % in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. (United Nations report)
[● 2 SOURCES] Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree raising the maximum number of military personnel by 25,000, bringing the total above 1.5 million. (Russian presidential decree)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Donetsk People’s Republic commemorates a “Day of Memory for Children Victims of War” on 27 July each year. (Decree by Denis Pushilin)
[● 2 SOURCES] Kyiv is organizing a mass protest march on 31 July against the dismissal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. (organisers)
[● 2 SOURCES] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met British Prime Minister Keir Burnham and then travelled to Washington to meet Donald Trump. (news report)