Ukraine’s General Staff says Russia’s army suffered 42,800 casualties in July, potentially its highest monthly loss of 2026. Ukraine’s Defence Ministry separately said Russian forces dropped 8,300 glide bombs during the month, also a wartime record.
The figures have not been independently verified. The reported losses came as Russia increased its use of glide bombs and ballistic missiles, while Ukraine renewed a 40-day campaign of strikes against military and energy targets inside Russia on August 4.
| July 2025 | July 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ukrainian territory occupied during the month | 455,000 sq km (176,000 sq miles), according to the Institute for the Study of War’s estimate | 37.85 sq km (15 sq miles), according to the ISW estimate |
What Ukraine is claiming about Russian losses
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said drones were responsible for 30,272 of Russia’s reported July casualties. The claims come as Ukraine prepares for what Zelenskyy believes could be a Russian call-up of up to 500,000 reservists in October.
Al Jazeera said it could not independently verify either side’s casualty claims. Zelenskyy has put Ukraine’s own losses at 450,000, including 50,000 fatalities, while the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that the Russia-Ukraine casualty ratio was nearly 8:1 in Ukraine’s favour during the first half of 2026.
Related coverage: Deadly Russian missile attack hits defence event near Kyiv amid ongoing conflict.
Russia is relying on bombs and ballistic missiles
Russia’s glide bombs can be released 20 to 30km (12 to 19 miles) from the front line. Their fins extend their range and accuracy, and some carry three tonnes of explosives. Ukraine says its defences have not adequately countered the weapons.
Russia also launched 376 missiles against Ukrainian cities in July, including 120 ballistic missiles, according to the supplied account. That exceeded the previous monthly record of 288 missiles in March. Ukraine said it stopped one of 51 Iskander-M ballistic missiles during the past week, while Patriot interceptors remain the only system described as effective against those missiles.
Ukraine renews its strikes inside Russia
Zelenskyy declared Ukraine’s first 40-day air campaign successful and renewed it on August 4. The campaign targeted military production and oil refining inside Russia, supply routes in occupied territory and Russian positions near the front line.
More context: Civilian Deaths Reported Amid Ongoing Attacks in Ukraine and Russian-Occupied Areas.
Ukraine’s Security Service said the campaign hit 14 refineries, dozens of oil depots and loading terminals, 14 aircraft and four airfields. The supplied account also says Ukraine has launched close to 10,000 long-range drones a month and has agreements with nine allies to manufacture drones abroad, with half of that production sent to Ukraine.
Territorial gains have slowed, according to ISW
The Institute for the Study of War estimated that Russia lost 183.5 sq km (70 sq miles) of Ukrainian territory on balance during 2026, compared with 2,198 sq km (848 sq miles) seized during the first seven months of 2025.
The ISW also recorded 121.6 sq km (47 sq miles) of Russian infiltration in July, bringing the year’s total to 379.9 sq km (147 sq miles). The account says Ukrainian forces have reversed many of those infiltrations, while defenders in Kostiantynivka have expressed doubt about holding the city for more than a few months.
Also read: Drone strikes kill at least 11, including children, in Russian-held and Ukrainian areas.
Questions readers ask
Are the 42,800 Russian casualties independently confirmed?
No. Ukraine’s General Staff made the claim, but Al Jazeera said it could not independently verify casualty figures from either side.
Why are glide bombs difficult to stop?
They are released 20 to 30km from the front line, use fins to gain range and accuracy, fly too fast for drones to intercept and cannot be disoriented by electronic scrambling, according to the supplied account.
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