The situation 1586 – July 25, 2026

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin likely used a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to justify his refusal to freeze the frontline in Ukraine and his decision to continue waging the war.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia continues to prepare for involuntary reserve call-ups and is preparing to receive about 30,000 new North Korean troops amid staggeringly high battlefield casualties.
3. Russia is expanding its gasoline export ban until the end of 2026.
4. A Romanian F-16 fighter jet intercepted an unidentified drone in Romanian airspace for the second time in two days on July 25.
5. Ukrainian forces struck Russian energy, logistics, and military assets on July 24 and 25. Russia launched 157 drones and two Kh-59/69 cruise missiles overnight on July 24 and 25.
6. Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces made confirmed advances on July 25.

The full update of the Russian offensive 1586 is available on UNDERSTANDING WAR.