ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 29, 2026

Key Takeaways from the ISW: Russia’s superior aviation capabilities are allowing Russia to use glide bomb strikes to enable infantry advances in and near Kostyantynivka. Efforts to degrade Russian aviation capabilities likely will deprive Russian forces of an important tactical advantage and help further reduce the tempo of Russian advances. The situation in and near Kostyantynivka is deteriorating, but Russian forces have not seized the city despite Russian claims. Fighting will likely continue for several weeks as Russian forces try to consolidate the positions they have gained through infiltrations. The Kremlin denied that Russia is preparing for mobilization, likely to assuage growing public concerns and possibly signal Russian President Vladimir Putin’s desire to continue volunteer recruitment over compulsory reserve call-ups for as long as possible. Russia is not on track to meet its annual recruitment target for 2026. The Kremlin continues setting conditions to block Telegram and deny the open internet in Russia, possibly in preparation for compulsory military mobilization. Russia launched 60 drones against Ukraine overnight. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian energy and industrial infrastructure on July 28 and 29. Russian forces recently advanced in the Velykyi Burluk and Slovyansk directions. JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. See the original here.