Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of July 21, 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 1,609th 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 219 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.
Yesterday, the enemy launched two missile strikes, employing three missiles, and carried out 92 airstrikes, dropping 285 guided aerial bombs. In addition, Russian forces deployed 9,963 kamikaze drones and conducted 3,309 attacks on populated areas and the positions of Ukrainian troops, including 44 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Over the past day, the Missile Forces and Artillery of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck three unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command posts, three areas of enemy troop concentration, two command posts, and three other important Russian military targets.
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: four combat engagements took place over the past day. The aggressor launched three airstrikes, dropping four guided aerial bombs, and carried out 68 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian forces and populated areas, including four attacks using multiple launch rocket systems.
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the enemy launched 12 attacks against the positions of Ukrainian units toward Hoptivka, Lyman, Izbytske, Kozacha Lopan, Hrafske, and Artilne.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers conducted no offensive operations.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces attempted 15 times to break through Ukrainian defenses, attacking in the areas of Zarichne and Novoselivka, as well as toward Shyikivka, Lyman, Stavky, and Ozerne.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops launched 27 assaults in the areas of Zakitne, Kryva Luka, and Riznykivka, as well as toward Pyskunivka, Mykolaivka, Malynivka, Orikhuvatka, and Rai-Oleksandrivka.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces carried out six attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar, Minkivka, and Markove, as well as toward Izhevka.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: the russian forces launched 26 attacks in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Rusyn Yar,and Sofiivka, as well as toward Dovha Balka, Vilne, Novopavlivka, Toretske, and Kucheriv Yar.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled 26 russian assaults in the areas of Udachne, Rodynske, and Hryshyne, as well as toward Vasylivka, Novopavlivka, Bilytske, Svitle, Novyi Donbas, Shevchenko, Myrne, and Serhiivka.
Oleksandrivka Direction
08:00 AM: the russian forces carried out one attack toward Ternove.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces launched 12 attacks toward Vozdvyzhivka, Huliaipilske, Kosivtseve, and Verkhnia Tersa.
Orikhiv Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled two russian attempts to advance near Mali Shcherbaky and Stepnohirsk.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers conducted no offensive operations over the past day.
Volyn and Polissia Direction
08:00 AM: 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 1,330 personnel. Ukrainian forces also destroyed or neutralized:
- 2 tanks
- 4 armored combat vehicles
- 57 artillery systems
- 3 multiple launch rocket systems
- 11 ground robotic systems
- 1,610 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
- 355 vehicles
- 9 pieces of special-purpose equipment
