Russian troop losses hit a new high; Ukraine reports territorial gains
The latest figures highlight the grinding, attritional character of the war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. In July 2026, Russian forces suffered one of their worst months on the battlefield, with 42,860 personnel killed or wounded. That was the highest monthly toll since January 2025 and the fourth-largest of the entire full-scale war. According to expert assessments, Russia's cumulative military losses are now approaching 1.5 million.
At the same time, Ukraine's armed forces have kept recapturing ground. Over the course of July, Ukrainian units liberated roughly 780 square kilometers on the southern front and regained 26 populated localities. Russian troops were pushed back more than 11 kilometers, particularly near the tripoint of the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Russian plans and Ukraine's response
Moscow had spent early 2026 preparing a spring-summer offensive in southeastern Ukraine, with plans to add around 20,000 troops to its force. At that stage, the Russian contingent in Ukraine numbered close to 680,000 personnel. Ukrainian military intelligence estimated that Russia was aiming to seize the whole of Donbas by September.
For 2026, Ukraine's defense forces intended to carry out a strategic defensive operation that included counteroffensive elements. On March 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian spring push had already failed.
“Russia does not have the strength for a large-scale offensive; it is making only tactical attempts to break through.” — Volodymyr Zelensky
On July 10, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi observed that Russian advances in the first half of 2026 had slowed by more than half, even though Russian forces held an almost two-to-one advantage in personnel and equipment. Average monthly losses for the Russian military are around 32,000 killed and wounded.
Amid these setbacks, Russian authorities are still trying to sustain recruitment, promising new soldiers relatively calm service conditions. Moscow has also turned to foreigners from African countries to bolster its ranks.
The combination of heavy casualties and lost territory is putting growing pressure on the Russian military command, which has been forced to adapt to a shifting frontline. With Ukraine recapturing ground, the trajectory could change further and reshape the military and political strategies of both sides. Continued recruitment efforts suggest Moscow intends to keep fighting despite mounting resource and logistics problems.