West's Strategy to Confront Putin Faces Significant Weakness

WHO:

Al Jazeera - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Colonel Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new chief of the Ukrainian General Staff, replacing Major General Oleksandr Syrskii.

Institute for the Study of War - Ukrainian General Staff Deputy Chief Major General Ihor Skybyuk was appointed as the chief of the Ukrainian General Staff on July 22, 2026, to replace Major General Andriy Hnatov.

Al Jazeera - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Colonel Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new chief of the Ukrainian General Staff, replacing Oleksandr Syrskii.

Al Jazeera - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he is "continuing to determine what adjustments should be made to Ukraine’s defence strategy and what priorities in production and supply to the military must be implemented as quickly as possible."

Al Jazeera - Ukrainian General Staff Deputy Chief Major General Ihor Skybyuk was appointed as the chief of the Ukrainian General Staff on July 22, 2026.

Responsible Statecraft - President Volodymyr Zelensky launched Ukraine's deep-strike campaign.

Institute for the Study of War - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov are involved in the ongoing conflict.

Institute for the Study of War - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are key figures in diplomatic discussions.

WHAT:

Responsible Statecraft - Ukraine's deep-strike campaign is at its height, aiming to "push the aggressor toward ending the war."

Al Jazeera - Ukrainian forces struck four warehouses of the Wildberries online retail group, which is suspected of supplying Russian recruits with protective gear and weapons.

Al Jazeera - Ukrainian forces reported that they struck logistics centers involved in providing Russian forces with drone components and navigation equipment and an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai and Stavropol Krai.

Institute for the Study of War - Russian President Vladimir Putin is committed to the military seizure of the remainder of Donetsk Oblast and the establishment of a “buffer zone” along the border areas of northern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.

Institute for the Study of War - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that the Russian Ministry of Defense has assured Putin that Russian forces can achieve the objective of seizing all of Donetsk Oblast by the end of 2026.

Al Jazeera - Ukrainian forces struck two additional logistics facilities of Russia’s largest online retailer Wildberries overnight on July 21 to 22.

Al Jazeera - Ukraine's Ministry of Defence reported that approximately 193,500 Russian troops have been killed or seriously wounded in 2026, averaging losses of 32,000 a month.

Al Jazeera - Ukraine's SBS Commander Robert Brovdi reported that Ukraine has disabled 196 fuel tankers and destroyed three-quarters of Russia’s ferry capacity across the Kerch Strait.

Al Jazeera - Brovdi also stated that the SBS has struck 117 electrical substations and power stations in Crimea this month.

Responsible Statecraft - Ukraine's deep-strike campaign aims to pressure Russia into ending the war.

Institute for the Study of War - Russian forces claimed to have seized 2,226 square kilometers of territory in the first six months of 2026, although ISW assessed only 81.1 square kilometers were actually seized.

Institute for the Study of War - The Russian State Duma passed a bill allowing citizens with active criminal records to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense during mobilization.

Institute for the Study of War - Putin claimed Russia's GDP grew by 0.3 percent in May 2026 and by 0.2 percent in the first five months of 2026.

WHERE:

Al Jazeera - Ukraine struck the Slavneft-Yanos refinery in Yaroslavl, described as the largest in the central part of Russia.

Responsible Statecraft - The deep-strike campaign is focused on Russian infrastructure.

Institute for the Study of War - Russian forces are operating in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts.

Institute for the Study of War - Ukrainian forces struck logistics facilities in Krasnodar and Stavropol krais.

WHEN:

Institute for the Study of War - The Russian State Duma passed a bill on July 22, 2026, allowing citizens with active criminal records to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense during mobilization.

Al Jazeera - The simultaneous replacement of Ukraine's top military and political defence personnel occurred in the past week, with Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov ousted on July 15 and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskii replaced six days later.

Institute for the Study of War - The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed the territorial gains occurred in the first six months of 2026.

Institute for the Study of War - Lavrov mentioned proposals discussed during the August 2025 Alaska Summit.

Institute for the Study of War - The bill allowing citizens with criminal records to enlist was passed on July 22, 2026.

WHY:

Responsible Statecraft - The West's strategy to pressure Putin relies on the assumption that raising the costs of continued fighting will increase discontent in Russian society, forcing the Kremlin to negotiate.

Al Jazeera - The shake-up in Ukraine's military leadership appears to be amid an internal debate over strategy, particularly regarding unmanned warfare.

Responsible Statecraft - The West's strategy aims to increase discontent in Russian society to force the Kremlin to negotiate.

Institute for the Study of War - Russia's maximalist war aims include complete Ukrainian capitulation and the establishment of a buffer zone along the border areas.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - Ukraine has developed the use of short-range drones on the battlefield to reduce exposure and lower casualties, effectively halting Russia’s advance this year.

Al Jazeera - Ukrainian forces have developed the use of short-range drones on the battlefield to reduce exposure and lower casualties, effectively halting Russia’s advance this year.

Al Jazeera - Ukraine has developed the use of short-range drones on the battlefield to reduce exposure and lower casualties, effectively halting Russia’s advance this year.

Responsible Statecraft - The strategy involves expanding Ukraine's deep-strike capabilities with support from NATO and the White House.

Institute for the Study of War - Russian forces are reportedly using propaganda to exaggerate battlefield successes and maintain morale.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 19:27 UTC)

Ukrainian President Zelensky has appointed Colonel Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new chief of the Ukrainian General Staff, taking over from Major General Oleksandr Syrskii, while Major General Ihor Skybyuk had been appointed to the role just days earlier on July 22, 2026. As Ukraine's deep-strike campaign intensifies, forces have targeted logistics centers and warehouses linked to Russian military supplies, including strikes on facilities in Krasnodar Krai and Stavropol Krai. Meanwhile, the Russian State Duma has passed a bill allowing citizens with criminal records to enlist with the Ministry of Defense, reflecting the Kremlin's ongoing mobilization efforts amid the conflict.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 16:25 UTC)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Colonel Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new chief of the Ukrainian General Staff, taking over from Oleksandr Syrskii. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin remains focused on seizing the remainder of Donetsk Oblast and establishing a buffer zone along the northern borders of Sumy and Kharkiv, with assurances from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that this goal can be achieved by the end of 2026. In response, Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted logistics facilities tied to Russian military operations, utilizing short-range drones to minimize risks and effectively halt Russia's advances this year.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 07:50 UTC)

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is actively reassessing the country's defense strategy and prioritizing military production and supply. In a significant leadership change, Major General Ihor Skybyuk has been appointed as the chief of the Ukrainian General Staff, following the recent ousting of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskii. Meanwhile, Ukraine has reported substantial successes against Russian forces, including the disabling of 196 fuel tankers and the destruction of three-quarters of Russia’s ferry capacity across the Kerch Strait.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 22:25 UTC)

President Zelensky has launched Ukraine's deep-strike campaign, which aims to pressure Russia into ending the ongoing conflict, focusing particularly on Russian infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russian forces have claimed significant territorial gains, although assessments suggest much less was actually seized, and the Russian State Duma has passed a controversial bill allowing citizens with criminal records to enlist in the military. Key figures in this situation include Russian President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov, who are involved in both military operations and diplomatic discussions, as the West seeks to increase discontent within Russian society to push for negotiations.