Moscow's Worries Grow as Russian Offensives Stumble in Ukraine
WHO:
Al Jazeera - President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Robert ‘Magyar’ Brovdi, Vladyslav Vlasyuk, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
ABC News - President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
WHAT:
Al Jazeera - The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russian forces seized 2,190 square kilometres (845 square miles) of Ukraine in the first six months of 2025, compared to 622 sq km (240 sq miles) so far this year, translating to a rate of advance of 1.03 sq km (0.39 sq miles) a day this year versus 16.6 sq km (6.4 sq miles) a day in the first half of 2025.
AP News - Putin stated that the capture of Kostyantynivka is of “major strategic importance” and hailed it as a key step toward capturing the nearby cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
BBC - At least 920 Russian drone operators have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to analysis by BBC Russian, Mediazona, and a team of volunteers.
Al Jazeera - Russian forces seized 2,190 square kilometres (845 square miles) of Ukraine in the first six months of 2025, compared to 622 sq km (240 sq miles) so far this year.
Al Jazeera - Russia’s net gain in the first half of 2026 is just 97 sq km (37 sq miles).
Al Jazeera - Ukraine destroyed 12 electricity substations in southern Crimea from July 1-2.
Al Jazeera - 50,147 military targets were destroyed/damaged by Ukraine in June.
AP News - The Russian military unleashed a massive 11-hour barrage on the Ukrainian capital that killed at least 30 people.
AP News - An estimated one-third of Russia’s refining capacity has been cut off due to Ukrainian attacks.
AP News - Gasoline production in Russia has been reduced by roughly 17% to 850,000 barrels a day.
AP News - Putin stated that Russia would consider importing gasoline to help address “temporary” shortages.
AP News - Putin claimed that the capture of Kostyantynivka is of “major strategic importance.”
AP News - A United Nations tally states that more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in the war.
Al Jazeera - Russia's armed forces aim to capture the remaining 20 percent of Ukraine’s partially occupied eastern Donetsk region by the end of the year, having failed to meet 14 previous deadlines.
Al Jazeera - At the current rate of advance, Russian forces will need 5,150 days, or 14 years, to complete their task in Donetsk.
Al Jazeera - Ukraine's military estimated that Russia's casualties have risen to 1,298 per square kilometre taken in June, compared to 68 casualties per square kilometre in June 2025.
Al Jazeera - Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that short and mid-range capabilities will increase further this month as battalions will receive additional resources.
Al Jazeera - Russia's oil revenues fell by 30 percent from January to May compared to the same period last year.
ABC News - Putin has made any ceasefire conditional on Ukraine's withdrawal from the part of the Donetsk region it still controls, a demand rejected by Ukraine.
ABC News - Putin claimed that Ukraine had offered to limit the fighting to the four regions that Russia annexed but never fully captured: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Meduza - Alexander Volfovich, the state secretary of Belarus’s Security Council, urged Belarusians to avoid traveling to Russia, particularly to border regions, after a Ukrainian drone reportedly attacked a tourist bus from Belarus.
Al Jazeera - Ukraine’s military estimated that Russia suffered another 39,490 casualties in June alone.
Al Jazeera - Russian forces seized 2,190 square kilometres (845 square miles) of Ukraine in the first six months of 2025, compared to 622 sq km (240 sq miles) so far this year.
Al Jazeera - Russia’s net gain in the first half of 2026 is just 97 sq km (37 sq miles).
Al Jazeera - Ukraine destroyed 12 electricity substations in southern Crimea from July 1-2.
Al Jazeera - 50,147 military targets were destroyed/damaged by Ukraine in June.
ABC News - The Russian military launched an 11-hour barrage on Kyiv, killing at least 21 people.
ABC News - More than 50 reported Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and energy facilities in Russia and occupied Crimea since March.
ABC News - Gasoline production in Russia has been reduced by roughly 17% to 850,000 barrels a day.
WHERE:
Al Jazeera - Eastern Donetsk region, southern Crimea, Russia, Kyiv, Ufa, Nizhegorodsky, Slavyansk, Yaroslavl, Volga, Vyatka, Beloomut, Minyayevo, Dubna, Volgograd, Saky military airfield, Penza region.
ABC News - Kyiv, Crimea, Moscow.
WHEN:
Al Jazeera - Ukraine’s long-range strikes campaign announced on June 25.
Al Jazeera - Casualty estimates of 1.4 million Russian soldiers since the war began reported on July 1.
ABC News - The second strike on a Moscow refinery occurred on June 18.
WHY:
Al Jazeera - Zelenskyy attributed Ukraine’s success to decisions made last year to increase drone production and develop domestic long-range missiles.
Al Jazeera - Putin described Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy as an effort to distract from its battlefield losses.
ABC News - Putin claimed that a ceasefire would allow Ukrainian forces to regroup.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - Ukraine's strategy includes mid-range strikes targeting Russian logistics, warehouses, resupply convoys, and bridges.
Al Jazeera - Ukrainian forces struck a Russian target every 52 seconds in June.
ABC News - Rationing has been introduced in many Russian regions due to fuel shortages.
(UPDATED July 4, 2026 06:10 UTC)
Russian forces have made significant territorial gains in Ukraine, seizing 2,190 square kilometers in the first half of 2025, while their advance this year has slowed to just 622 square kilometers. President Putin emphasized the strategic importance of capturing Kostyantynivka, calling it a crucial step toward taking the nearby cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Additionally, reports indicate that at least 920 Russian drone operators have lost their lives since the invasion began in February 2022.
--
(UPDATED July 4, 2026 01:27 UTC)
In a significant escalation of the conflict, Russian forces have seized just 97 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in the first half of 2026, a stark contrast to their earlier gains of over 2,190 square kilometers in 2025. Meanwhile, Ukraine has ramped up its military efforts, destroying 12 electricity substations in southern Crimea and damaging over 50,000 military targets in June alone. Tragically, the ongoing violence has resulted in a United Nations report indicating that more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians have lost their lives in the war.
--
(UPDATED July 3, 2026 19:23 UTC)
Russia's armed forces are targeting the remaining 20 percent of Ukraine’s partially occupied eastern Donetsk region, aiming to achieve this by the end of the year despite having missed 14 previous deadlines. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced that short and mid-range military capabilities will be enhanced this month as battalions receive additional resources. In a related development, Alexander Volfovich, the state secretary of Belarus’s Security Council, has advised Belarusians to steer clear of travel to Russia, especially in border regions, following a reported drone attack on a tourist bus from Belarus.
--
(UPDATED July 3, 2026 17:35 UTC)
In a significant escalation, President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy are at the forefront of ongoing military developments, with Ukraine's military estimating that Russia suffered nearly 39,500 casualties in June alone. Meanwhile, Russian forces have seized over 2,190 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in the first half of 2025, but their net gain for 2026 stands at just 97 square kilometers, while Ukraine has reportedly destroyed over 50,000 military targets last month. Amidst this turmoil, Ukraine has launched a long-range strikes campaign, targeting Russian logistics and energy facilities, which has led to a reduction in gasoline production in Russia by approximately 17%.