The UN reveals that Myanmar's military conducted more than 400 airstrikes during the election period, resulting in the deaths of over 170 civilians amid criticisms that the elections were not free.
On 30 January 2026, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that at least 170 civilians died from over 400 airstrikes by Myanmar's military during elections held from December 2025 to January 2026.
The report states that at least 408 airstrikes occurred throughout the campaign and voting period, based on verified sources. The elections took place in three phases from 28 December 2025 to 25 January 2026.
The UN also noted that the elections were conducted primarily in areas controlled by the military, with large numbers of people excluded from the voting process, especially displaced persons and ethnic minorities such as the Rohingya.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the military is using violence to maintain power and called on the international community to increase pressure to end the violence in Myanmar.
Myanmar has been under military rule since the 2021 coup that overthrew the civilian government, leading to ongoing conflict and a prolonged civil war to this day.