The situation 1582 – July 21, 2026

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed the Ukrainian Joint Forces Task Force Commander Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his replacement late on July 21 (picture).
2. Russian authorities continue costly efforts to mitigate the loss of Russian oil refining capacity due to Ukrainian long-range strikes by subsidizing diesel imports.
3. The Russian government continues exerting legal pressure on Russian migrants likely to coerce migrants into military service under threat of deportation.
4. Polish authorities continue warning of a possible Russian provocation against NATO’s eastern flank.
5. Ukrainian forces struck Russian manufacturing infrastructure and military assets overnight on July 20 and 21. Russia launched 58 drones against Ukraine overnight.  
6. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Oleksandrivka direction and in northern Kharkiv Oblast.

The full update of the Russian offensive 1582 is available on UNDERSTANDING WAR.