Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of July 20, 2026.
This report is part of EMPR’s July 2026 Russia – Ukraine war timeline, tracking daily battlefield and geopolitical developments. For full coverage of this escalation phase, see the complete timeline.
Today is the 1,608th day of the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Update as of 08:00 AM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
A total of 235 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.
Yesterday, the enemy launched one missile strike, employing 39 missiles, and carried out 76 airstrikes, dropping 222 guided aerial bombs. In addition, Russian forces deployed 10,761 kamikaze drones and conducted 3,116 attacks on populated areas and the positions of Ukrainian troops, including 33 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Over the past day, the Air Force, Missile Forces, and Artillery of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck nine areas of enemy troop concentration, five unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command posts, one artillery gun, two logistics supply depots, and one other important enemy target.
Update as of 10:00 PM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
A total of 186 combat engagements have taken place since the beginning of the day.
The enemy launched two missile strikes using two missiles and carried out 56 airstrikes, dropping 167 guided aerial bombs. In addition, Russian forces deployed 6,595 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,368 attacks on populated areas and the positions of Ukrainian troops.
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian aggressor launched three airstrikes, dropping eight guided aerial bombs, and carried out 56 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian forces and populated areas, including one attack using a multiple launch rocket system.
10:00 PM: Ukraine’s Defense Forces successfully repelled one russian assault. The enemy carried out two airstrikes using seven guided aerial bombs and launched 40 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian forces and populated areas, including two attacks using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers launched 14 attacks against the positions of Ukrainian units toward Hoptivka and in the areas of Lyman, Starytsia, and Prylipka.
10:00 PM: the enemy launched four russian assaults on the positions of Ukrainian units near Tsehelne, Vovchanski Khutory, Izbytske, and Kolodiazne.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops conducted no offensive operations over the past day.
10:00 PM: the russian enemy launched one assault on the positions of Ukraine’s Defense Forces toward the settlement of Kurylivka.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces attempted 26 times to break through Ukrainian defenses, attacking in the areas of Novomykhailivka, Drobysheve, Novoselivka, and Hrekivka, as well as toward Shyikivka, Stavky, Lyman, and Ozerne.
10:00 PM: 13 russian attempts to advance were recorded in the areas of Shyikivka, Drobysheve, Novoselivka, Stavky, Lyman, and Ozerne. Three combat engagements are still ongoing.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian forces launched 27 assaults in the areas of Zakitne, Kryva Luka, and Riznykivka, as well as toward Pyskunivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka.
10:00 PM: Ukraine’s Defense Forces successfully repelled 23 russian attempts to advance near Kryva Luka, Zakitne, Rai-Oleksandrivka, and Riznykivka. Three combat engagements are still ongoing.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces carried out two attacks near Nykyforivka.
10:00 PM: five russian assaults were recorded in the areas of Fedorivka Druha, Nykyforivka, Yurkivka, and Vasiutynske.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops launched 24 attacks in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Ivanopillia,and Stepanivka, as well as toward Pavlivka.
10:00 PM: Ukraine’s Defense Forces repelled 12 russian assaults near Illinivka, Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, and Rusyn Yar.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled 30 russian assaults in the areas of Toretske, Shakhove, Udachne, Filiia, and Hryshyne, as well as toward Kucheriv Yar, Novyi Donbas, Myrne, Bilytske, Svitle, Novopavlivka, Shevchenko, and Novopidhorodne.
10:00 PM: the enemy launched 25 attacks. Russian forces attempted to advance in the areas of Shevchenko, Nove Shakhove, Vilne, Novooleksandrivka, Toretske, Sofiivka, Kucheriv Yar, Bilytske, Myrne, Serhiivka, Udachne, Novopidhorodne, and Novopavlivka. One combat engagement is still ongoing.
According to preliminary estimates, 28 Russian soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in this sector today. Ukrainian forces also destroyed one artillery system, four military vehicles, one piece of special-purpose equipment, and one electronic warfare (EW) station. In addition, six enemy artillery systems were damaged, while 234 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types were destroyed or suppressed.
Oleksandrivka Direction
08:00 AM: no russian forces offensive operations were recorded.
10:00 PM: Ukrainian defenders repelled two russian attacks in the areas of Oleksandrohrad and Ternove.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces launched 21 attacks near Zaliznychne and toward Dobropillia, Tsvitkove, Vozdvyzhivka, and Hirke.
10:00 PM: 13 russian attacks were recorded in the areas of Verkhnia Tersa, Vozdvyzhivka, Tsvitkove, Charivne, Kosivtseve, and Hirke.
Orikhiv Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled one enemy attempt to advance near Shcherbaky.
10:00 PM: Ukrainian defenders repelled one russian attack near Bilohiria.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops conducted no offensive operations over the past day.
Volyn and Polissia Direction
08:00 AM and 10:00 PM: no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groupings were detected.
Ukrainian defenders continue the systematic destruction of Russian forces while maintaining effective resistance across the entire front line.
Overall, Russian losses over the past day amounted to 1,600 personnel. Ukrainian forces also destroyed or neutralized:
- 2 tanks
- 8 armored combat vehicles
- 82 artillery systems
- 3 multiple launch rocket systems
- 6 air defense systems
- 9 ground robotic systems
- 18 missiles
- 1,769 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
- 605 vehicles
- 3 pieces of special-purpose equipment.
