According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US think tank, Russian forces sustained the highest military losses of the year during July 2026 on the Ukraine battlefield. The ISW released this finding on Sunday.
Adding to the high figures, the Ukrainian General Staff reported on August 1 that Russian troops reportedly suffered 42,860 casualties in July, reaching a new monthly peak in the conflict. These figures include soldiers killed and severely wounded, and they show a steady increase in losses since February 2026, when the recorded Russian losses were estimated at 26,090.
Meanwhile, the ISW noted that the Kremlin is struggling to disguise its slow progress in Ukraine by deploying what it calls “exaggerated claims” of advances. Russian military units have reportedly claimed to have conquered or infiltrated 18.49 square kilometers per day in July 2026. This information campaign appears designed to convince the Russian public that the sacrifices being made during the war are justifiable.
However, the ISW continued by pointing out that even with Moscow’s most extensive claims, the Russian armed forces are not advancing faster than a “slow walk.” This pace is significantly slower than what would be necessary for the Kremlin to cause the collapse of the Ukrainian lines and quickly capture the territories it claims it will conquer by the end of 2026.
