Russia escalates glide-bomb and missile strikes as Ukrainian casualties rise sharply

In July, Russia deployed an unprecedented 8,300 glide bombs, according to Ukraine’s defence ministry, marking the highest monthly use since the war began. Kyiv’s General Staff announced that Ukrainian forces suffered 42,800 casualties during the same month, a figure that would represent the steepest loss rate this year. Moscow also launched a record 376 missiles, of which 120 were ballistic, depleting Ukraine’s stock of Patriot interceptors.

The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russian-occupied territory fell from 455,000 sq km in July 2025 to just 37.85 sq km in July 2026, while Russian infiltrations covered 121.6 sq km. Ukraine’s president highlighted a 40-day air strike campaign that hit refineries, oil depots and airfields across Russia, including a Lukoil plant in Volgograd. The Kremlin’s ambassador-at-large warned of widespread power outages in occupied Crimea and nearby regions. Both sides continue to trade heavy aerial attacks amid a deepening humanitarian toll.