Ukrainian Forces Repel Massive Russian Attack in Donetsk

On 22 July 2026 Ukrainian National Guard units, including the 1st Azov Corps, successfully halted a large‑scale Russian offensive in the Donetsk region. The assault combined elements of the Russian 8th and 41st combined‑arms armies and a 90‑tank division, supported by dozens of armored vehicles and attack drones.

Ukrainian commanders said the defense relied on extensive minefields, precision air strikes that destroyed bridges and key crossing points, and the interception of Gerbera and Lancet drones. Ukrainian reports claim the destruction of seven Russian tanks, six armored fighting vehicles, a BM‑21 Grad launcher, a Tornado‑S multiple‑rocket system and 47 light vehicles, with 123 Russian soldiers killed and 29 wounded. Forces from the Air Force, Security Service, Border Police and other units participated in the counter‑offensive.

The battle highlights the ongoing intensity of the Russia‑Ukraine war, with Ukrainian officials noting over 230 frontline engagements in the preceding 24 hours, most intense around Pokrovsk. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of further large‑scale Russian attacks in the coming weeks.