Russia captures more Ukrainian land in July than Ukraine recaptures, OSINT data shows

The OSINT project DeepState released a report in early August covering the battlefield at the end of July 2026. According to the analysis, Russian occupation forces expanded control over Ukrainian territory by a net 36 square kilometres more than Ukrainian forces were able to liberate during the same month.

Analysts caution that the net figure could be higher, possibly up to 88 km², after later‑processed data were incorporated. DeepState also records Ukrainian advances on two fronts totalling at least 132 km², though official confirmation is still pending. Earlier months showed different dynamics, with May seeing a net Ukrainian gain of 120 km² and Russian gains of about 130 km². The conflict remains largely positional, especially around the Donetsk region.