In May 2026, Action on Armed Violence recorded 3,965 deaths and injuries from 603 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 89% (3,532) of the deaths and injuries recorded.
In instances where explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 97% of casualties (3,416) were civilians, as opposed to 26% (116) in lesser-populated areas.
Manufactured explosive weapons accounted for 94% (3,314) of civilian casualties, while improvised explosive weapons (IEDs) accounted for 6% (218) of these civilian casualties in May 2026.
Of the main launch-method types of manufactured explosive weapons, air-launched explosive weapons accounted for 76% (2,670) of civilian casualties, ground-launched weapons were responsible for 7% (251) of civilian casualties, and mines were responsible for less than 1% (12) of civilian casualties.
At least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 23 countries and territories in May 2026. The five most affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Ukraine (1,770 civilian casualties), Lebanon, (708), Gaza (325), Pakistan (198) and Sudan (186).
UKRAINE
In May 2026, there were 282 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Ukraine, 277 of which resulted in 1,770 civilian casualties, 221 of whom were killed and 1,549 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 63 children, 100 women and 129 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 93% of all 1,909 casualties recorded in Ukraine in May, as there were also 139 reported armed-actor casualties, 115 of whom were killed, and 24 injured.
90% (1,755) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas:
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 1,046 (59%) |
| Multiple (urban) | 532 (30%) |
| Public transport | 80 (5%) |
| Village | 25 (1%) |
| Commercial premises | 23 (1%) |
| School | 18 (1%) |
| Transport related infrastructure | 17 (1%) |
| Agricultural land | 8 (>1%) |
| Entertainment | 7 (>1%) |
| Road | 6 (>1%) |
| Humanitarian infrastructure | 4 (>1%) |
| No information | 4 (>1%) |
The oblasts in which civilian casualties were reported in Ukraine in May:
| Oblast | Civilian casualties |
| Kherson | 316 |
| Kharkiv | 269 |
| Dnipropetrovsk | 248 |
| Zaporizhzhia | 186 |
| Kyiv | 172 |
| Donetsk | 172 |
| Sumy | 158 |
| Chernihiv | 66 |
| Odesa | 58 |
| Poltava | 38 |
| Luhansk | 18 |
| Cherkasy | 14 |
| Rivne | 14 |
| Ternopil | 12 |
| Ivano-Frankivsk | 8 |
| Mykolaiv | 6 |
| Volyn | 5 |
| Crimea | 5 |
| Khmelnytskyi | 3 |
| Zhytomyr | 1 |
| Vinnytsia | 1 |
99.9% (1,768) of civilian casualties were attributed to state actor use of explosive weapons, specifically Russia, who accounted for 1,745 civilian casualties, and Ukraine, who accounted for 23 civilian casualties. Less than 1% (2) of civilian casualties were attributed to actors of unknown name and status.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 70% of civilian casualties:Air strikes (1,236) |
| Combined explosive weapons | 11% of civilian casualties (192) |
| Weapons of unclear launch method | 11% of civilian casualties Missiles (186) |
| Ground launched weapons | 9% of civilian casualties Non-specific shelling (132)Artillery shelling (20)Grenades (2) |
| Mines | >1% of civilian casualties Landmine (2) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Ukraine in May 2026 increased compared to levels recorded in April, when 283 incidents caused 1,535 civilian casualties, 172 of whom were killed and 1,363 injured. In March, 266 incidents were recorded, which caused 1,240 civilian casualties (161 killed, 1,079 injured).
LEBANON
In May 2026, there were 141 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Lebanon, 125 of which resulted in 755 civilian casualties, 340 of whom were killed and 368 injured. Overall, civilians accounted for 94% of all 755 casualties recorded in Lebanon in May, as there were also 47 armed actors casualties, including 14 reported killed and 33 reported injured.
94% (663) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
|---|---|
| Urban residential | 605 |
| Village | 32 |
| Road | 30 |
| Armed base | 25 |
| Hospital | 13 |
| Market | 3 |
The regions in which civilian casualties were recorded in Lebanon in May are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| South | 386 |
| Nabatieh | 227 |
| Beqaa | 35 |
| Beirut | 31 |
| Mount Lebanon | 24 |
| Baalbek | 5 |
All 755 civilian casualties were attributed to state use of explosive weapons, specifically Israel.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 100% of civilian casualties Air strike (708) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Lebanon in April 2026 decreased compared to levels recorded in April, when 114 incidents caused 1,894 civilian casualties, 480 of whom were killed and 1,414 injured. In March, 160 incidents were recorded, which caused 1,298 civilian casualties (498 killed, 800 injured).
GAZA
In May 2026, there were 85 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Gaza, 48 of which resulted in 325 civilian casualties, 100 of whom were killed and 225 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 14 children, 5 women and 17 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 95% of casualties recorded in Gaza in May, as there were also 18 armed actor casualties, 17 of whom were killed and 1 injured.
All 325 civilian casualties occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 78% (252) |
| Encampment | 19% (62) |
| Humanitarian infrastructure | 2% (8) |
| Entertainment | 1% (2) |
| School | >1 (1) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Gaza in May are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| North | 219 |
| Central | 56 |
| South | 50 |
All 164 civilian casualties were attributed to state use of explosive weapons, specifically Israel.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 95% of civilian casualties Air strikes (305)Air-launched missiles (2)Air-dropped bomb (1) |
| Ground launched weapons | 5% of civilian casualties:Non-specific shelling (15)Artillery shelling (2) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Gaza in May 2026 increased compared to April, where 58 incidents caused 164 civilian casualties, of which 106 were killed and 58 injured. In March 2026, 38 incidents were recorded, which caused 180 civilian casualties (76 killed, 104 injured).
PAKISTAN
In May 2026, there were 16 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Pakistan, 10 of which resulted in 198 civilian casualties, 57 of whom were killed and 141 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 2 children and 2 men. Overall, civilians accounted for 78% of casualties recorded in Pakistan in May, as there were also 58 armed actor casualties, 43 of whom were killed and 15 injured.
98% (194) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Public transport | 51% (100) |
| Market | 32% (64) |
| Multiple (urban) | 8% (16) |
| Urban residential | 7% (14) |
| Road | 1% (2) |
| No information | 1% (2) |
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Pakistan in May are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| Balochistan | 125 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 73 |
Non-state actors were responsible for 86% of civilian harm from explosive weapons, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), who accounted for 100 civilian casualties, and non-state actors of unknown name, accounting for 70 civilian casualties. Actors of unknown name and status accounted for 8% (16) of civilian harm, and state actors, specifically Pakistan, accounted for 6% (12) of civilian casualties.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| IED | 86% of civilian casualtiesNon-specific IED (168)Roadside bomb (2) |
| Ground launched weapons | 13% of civilian casualties:Grenade (13)Non-specific shelling (12)Mortar (1) |
| Air launched weapons | 1% of civilian casualties Air strikes (2) |
The number of civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Pakistan in May 2026 increased compared to April, where 13 incidents caused 40 civilian casualties, of which 10 were killed and 30 injured. In March 2026, 30 incidents were recorded, which caused 142 civilian casualties (33 killed, 109 injured).
SUDAN
In May 2026, there were 14 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Sudan, all of which caused 186 civilian casualties, 117 of whom were killed and 69 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 9 children and 6 women. Overall, civilians accounted for 99.4% of casualties recorded in Sudan in May, as there was also one reported armed-actor casualty, who was killed.
95% (176) civilian casualties reported in May occurred in populated areas.
| Event Location | Civilian Casualties |
| Urban residential | 50% (93) |
| Market | 28% (53) |
| Road | 15% (28) |
| Village | 3% (6) |
| Humanitarian infrastructure | 3% (6) |
The states in which civilian casualties were reported in Sudan in May are:
| Region | Civilian casualties |
| North Darfur | 53 |
| North Kordofan | 49 |
| West Kordofan | 38 |
| White Nile | 16 |
| South Kordofan | 16 |
| Jazirah | 6 |
| Khartoum | 5 |
| West Darfur | 3 |
Non-state use of explosive weapons accounted for 53% (99) of civilian casualties, specifically by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who accounted for 80 civilian casualties, and the combined use by the RSF and The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM–N), who accounted for 19 civilian casualties. Actors of unknown name and status accounted for 24% (44) of civilian casualties. State use of explosive weapons, specifically by Sudan, accounted for 23% (43) of civilian casualties.
Explosive weapon launch method:
| Launch method | Civilian casualties |
| Air launched weapons | 97% of civilian casualties:Air strikes (181) |
| Ground launched weapons | 3% of civilian casualties Artillery shelling (5) |
Civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Sudan in May 2026 fell compared to April, when 22 incidents caused 347 reported civilian casualties (188 killed, 159 injured). In March, 28 incidents of explosive weapon use were recorded, which resulted in 791 reported civilian casualties (334 killed, 457 injured).
AOAV condemns the use of violence against civilians and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. All actors should stop using explosive weapons with wide-area effects where there is likely to be a high concentration of civilians.
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