A record number of Afghan civilians are being killed in ground battles across the country, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Sunday. The total number of civilian casualties decreased by 2 per cent in the first quarter in comparison to the same quarter of 2014, but casualties caused by ground operations increased 8 per cent, the mission said. Overall, 655 civilians were killed and 1,155 injured in the first quarter, it said, while ground fighting between government and anti-government forces caused 136 deaths and 385 injuries.