UNIPA News,KYIV || 11 July-Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russian territorial advances slowed by more than half during the first six months of 2026, attributing the change to Ukraine’s active defensive operations and sustained countermeasures along the front line.
Speaking after a military performance review on July 10, Syrskyi said Russian forces had attempted a large-scale offensive but failed to achieve their primary objectives despite maintaining what he described as nearly a twofold advantage in personnel and equipment. He noted that while Russian forces had previously conducted offensive operations across 13 operational directions, active assaults are now concentrated on six or seven fronts.
According to Syrskyi, Ukrainian forces continue to maintain defensive positions while retaining the initiative in selected sectors. He said the ratio of Ukrainian assault operations to Russian attacks currently stands at approximately 40 to 60, adding that the pace of Russian advances has declined significantly during the first half of the year. He also stated that both sides have approached parity in the rate of territorial advances, with an increasing amount of territory being reclaimed by Ukrainian forces.
The commander said Russia continues to pursue its military objectives, including the full occupation of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, while seeking to expand operations in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and establish a larger buffer zone along Ukraine’s northern border. He also warned that Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks, increased the use of guided aerial bombs, and continued attacks affecting civilians.
Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian long-range strike operations targeted 697 sites inside Russia during the first half of 2026, causing an estimated $6.1 billion in direct and indirect economic damage. He added that Ukraine’s Middle Strike campaign hit a further 7,028 Russian targets over the same period.
According to the military assessment, Ukrainian artillery conducted more than 456,000 fire missions in the first six months of the year, while missile forces launched over 1,140 strikes. The Air Force carried out more than 1,100 strike missions, and support units completed approximately 1,400 operational tasks.
Syrskyi also announced new directives requiring frontline troops to be rotated at least once every 60 days, describing regular rotations as essential for maintaining soldiers’ health, combat readiness, and operational effectiveness. He further stated that criminal offences within the Ukrainian military declined by 12 percent during the first half of 2026.
Despite the reported slowdown in Russian advances, Syrskyi cautioned that the conflict remains far from a turning point, stressing that Ukraine should not underestimate Russia’s military capabilities as fighting continues across multiple fronts.
