In maps and charts: Russian and Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets

What the report says

Al Jazeera published an infographic-led report on September 9, 2026, examining how Russian and Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure have intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Drawing on analysis from Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), the piece says both sides have increased the share and geographic reach of strikes hitting non-military sites, with residential buildings, energy systems, schools and healthcare facilities among the most affected.

The report says Russian forces carried out far more attacks overall, but Ukrainian strikes on targets inside Russia also rose sharply by August 2026. It highlights that Russian attacks have concentrated heavily in eastern and border regions of Ukraine, especially Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson, while Ukrainian attacks have been centered largely in Russian border regions such as Belgorod and Kursk. The article also notes that residential infrastructure has made up the largest share of civilian hits on both sides, alongside substantial damage to energy facilities.

Al Jazeera says the war has increasingly shifted toward drones and air strikes rather than artillery, with Russia still relying on ballistic missiles and Ukraine expanding long-range drone use. The report adds that Kyiv’s air defenses are under strain because of limited supplies of interceptor missiles, while Western aid continues to support Ukraine’s drone and air-defense capacity. The broader significance, as presented in the article, is that civilian infrastructure is being pulled deeper into the conflict even as peace talks remain stalled.