War in Ukraine – Latest update, key takeaways and map from the Institute for the Study of War on August 1, 2026
Key Takeaways from the ISW:
- The Russian rate of advance in Ukraine remains low two and a half months into the Russian Spring-Summer 2026 offensive, which has failed to make any operationally significant gains.
- Russian forces reportedly suffered the highest casualty rate of 2026 thus far in July, paying an increasingly high price for no significant increase in the rate of advance — despite the Kremlin’s cognitive warfare effort to deny this fact.
- The Kremlin is desperately attempting to disguise its slow rate of advance in Ukraine through exaggerated claims of advance, but even Moscow’s claimed rate of advance is only about footpace.
- Russian forces continued to exploit Ukraine’s shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles by launching another large ballistic missile and drone strike series against Ukraine overnight on July 31 to August 1, primarily targeting Kyiv Oblast.
- Russian forces launched a record number of missiles against Ukraine in July 2026 — notably firing more missiles than it is producing per month and increasingly leveraging its S-400 and Zirkon missiles to compensate for shortfalls in ballistic missile stockpiles.
- Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian oil and gasoline infrastructure in Russia on July 31 and August 1.
- Russian forces are reportedly increasing the intensity of drone and glide bomb strikes on Ukrainian fuel and energy infrastructure, including gas stations.
- Russian forces are increasingly targeting Ukrainian civilian logistical centers and warehouses.
- Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces made confirmed advances on August 1.
