Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on July 10 that active defence operations have reduced the pace of Russian territorial advances by more than half during the first six months of 2026.

"The enemy attempted to launch a large-scale offensive but, in fact, failed to achieve any of its objectives despite having an almost twofold advantage in personnel and equipment," Syrskyi said following a meeting reviewing the military's performance during the first half of the year.

According to Syrskyi, Russia has reduced the number of active offensive directions from 13 to at most six or seven. Ukrainian forces continue defensive operations while maintaining the initiative in some sectors, with assault operations split roughly 40 to 60 in Russia's favour.

"There is a steady trend toward increasing the ratio of territory liberated by the Defence Forces compared with areas where the enemy manages to advance," Syrskyi said.

Russian forces are suffering average monthly losses of around 32,000 killed and wounded, according to the commander-in-chief. However, he cautioned against underestimating Russia, saying "a turning point in the war is still far away."

Syrskyi warned that Russia has not abandoned its goal of fully occupying Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts (regions) and is seeking to expand offensive operations in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Russia is also attempting to create and enlarge a buffer zone in Ukraine's northern regions.

During the first half of 2026, Ukraine's Deep Strike campaign hit 697 targets inside Russia, causing at least $6.1 billion in direct and indirect economic damage. The Middle Strike campaign struck 7,028 Russian targets over the same period.

Ukrainian artillery carried out more than 456,000 fire missions in the first six months of 2026. Missile forces launched more than 1,140 strikes, the Air Force conducted more than 1,100 strikes, and support units carried out around 1,400 missions.

Syrskyi also instructed commanders to rotate troops from front-line positions at least once every 60 days, describing the measure as essential for soldiers' lives, health, combat effectiveness, and fair treatment. Criminal offences within Ukraine's military decreased by 12 per cent during the first half of the year.

Source: Kyiv Independent