July Territorial Gains: Russia Advances 36 sq km, Ukraine Reclaims More Elsewhere
In July 2026, Russian forces captured 36 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, a net gain that DeepState notes could reach 88 square kilometers when accounting for delayed reporting of earlier Ukrainian advances. However, Ukrainian forces simultaneously reclaimed 49 and 83 square kilometers in two other sectors, suggesting a more complex battlefield dynamic. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirms Russia's slow advance, noting a daily rate of 1.22 square kilometers, which is significantly lower than the previous year. Despite these territorial metrics, Russia suffered record casualties in July, with 42,860 reported losses, highlighting the high cost of their incremental gains.
