Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of July 26, 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 1,614th 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 258 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.
Yesterday, the enemy launched two missile strikes using four missiles, carried out 74 airstrikes, and dropped 225 guided aerial bombs. In addition, Russian forces deployed 9,623 kamikaze drones and conducted 3,137 attacks against populated areas and the positions of Ukrainian troops, including 60 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Over the past day, the missile forces and artillery of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck seven UAV command posts, 15 concentrations of enemy personnel, one artillery system, and one other important military target of the Russian invaders.
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: Over the past day, the aggressor carried out 70 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas, including six attacks using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: The enemy launched 12 attacks against the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Prylipka, Starytsia, and Vilcha, and toward the settlements of Ternova, Izbytske, and Khatnie.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces conducted one attack toward Shyikivka.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: The enemy attempted to penetrate Ukrainian defenses 10 times, attacking in the areas of Novoselivka and Drobysheve, and toward Lyman, Stavky, and Dibrova.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: Russian troops launched 21 assaults in the areas of Kryva Luka and Zakitne, and toward Pyskunivka, Mykolaivka,and Rai-Oleksandrivka.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: Russian invaders carried out two attacks near Fedorivka Druha.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: The enemy launched 29 attacks in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, and Ivanopillia, and toward Stepanivka, Dovha Balka, and Novopavlivka.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled 46 russian assaults in the areas of Shakhove, Sofiivka, Rodynske, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, and Udachne, as well as toward the settlements of Vilne, Nove Shakhove, Novyi Donbas, Shevchenko, Myrne, and Novopidhorodne.
Oleksandrivka Direction
08:00 AM: The enemy launched three attacks toward Verbove and Berezove.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: Russian occupation forces carried out 25 attacks toward the settlements of Verkhnia Tersa, Staroukrainka, Tsvitkove, Vozdvyzhivka, Kosivtseve, Hirke, and Charivne, as well as in the area of Zaliznychne.
Orikhiv Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled two russian attempts to advance near Mali Shcherbaky and Plavni.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM: The enemy 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 enemy forces and are maintaining effective resistance along the entire front line.
Overall, during the past day, Russian forces lost 1,440 personnel. Ukrainian forces also destroyed or disabled:
- 9 tanks,
- 8 armored combat vehicles,
- 70 artillery systems,
- 1 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS),
- 1 missile,
- 8 ground robotic systems,
- 1,450 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),
- 453 military vehicles,
- 3 pieces of specialized military equipment.
