Kyiv: Russian losses are high, and the pace of advances has been cut in half

Russia had planned a large-scale offensive but achieved virtually none of its stated objectives, wrote Olexander Syrskyj, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian forces, on Telegram.

Ukraine continues to defend itself and has taken the initiative on certain sections of the front. “Thanks to the active efforts of the defenders, the pace of the Russian troops’ advance slowed by more than half in the first half of 2026,” he wrote.

Independent military analysts also confirm the slow progress of Russian troops. According to Syrskyj, the Ukrainians have recently even managed to recapture roughly as much territory as they have lost elsewhere.

Syrskyj: Russian losses amount to 32,000 per month

He estimated Russian casualties at just under 32,000 dead or seriously wounded per month. These figures cannot be independently verified. Kyiv’s goal is to inflict heavier losses on Russian units than Moscow can replace.

According to Russia's former President Dmitry Medvedev, 210,000 Russians enlisted to fight in the war in Ukraine during the first half of 2026. Analysts have cast doubt on these figures.

According to the independent portal “Wjorstka,” the number of volunteers plummeted by a third in 2026 despite record bonuses, falling below 30,000 per month. Recently, videos circulating on social media caused an uproar, showing men in the provincial city of Penza being forcibly recruited for military service. Previously, recruitment problems had really only been known to occur in Ukraine.