The situation 1583 – July 22, 2026

1. The Kremlin continues to reiterate Russia’s commitment to its maximalist war aims of complete Ukrainian capitulation while Russian forces fail to achieve operationally significant gains.
2. The Kremlin appears to be setting conditions for potential mobilization and is preparing for possible civil unrest in Russia resulting from mobilization.
3. Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to downplay Russia’s economic problems despite the ongoing fuel shortage crisis and broader Russian economic decline.
4. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Ukrainian General Staff Deputy Chief Major General Ihor Skybyuk as the chief of the Ukrainian General Staff on July 22 to replace Major General Andriy Hnatov.
5. Ukrainian forces struck two additional logistics facilities of Russia’s largest online retailer Wildberries (roughly equivalent to Russia’s version of Amazon) overnight on July 21 to 22. Russia launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile, three Kh-59/69 cruise missiles, and 216 drones against Ukraine overnight.   
6. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka direction.

The full update of the Russian offensive 1583 is available on UNDERSTANDING WAR.