russia intensified both its aerial bombardment campaign and frontline operations in July 2026, setting a new monthly record for the use of guided aerial bombs while maintaining relentless pressure across the battlefield, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense.
The ministry reported that russian forces dropped more than 8,300 guided aerial bombs equipped with glide and guidance kits during the month. The figure represents the highest monthly total recorded since the start of the full-scale invasion, underscoring Moscow's continued reliance on stand-off airpower to support ground operations while reducing the exposure of its tactical aircraft to Ukrainian air defenses.
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The new record follows an already exceptionally high level of aerial activity in June, when russian aviation employed 8,266 guided bombs. The consecutive monthly increases suggest that russia has been able to sustain a high production rate of glide bomb conversion kits and continues to prioritize this weapon as one of its primary tools for attacking Ukrainian defensive positions, logistics hubs, and frontline settlements.
July also ranked among the most active months of the war in terms of ground combat. According to data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 7,922 combat engagements were recorded during the month, averaging more than 250 clashes every day. Compared with 7,316 engagements in June, the figures point to a further escalation in operational tempo across multiple sectors of the front.
The Ministry of Defense also reported that russian forces carried out nearly 97,000 attacks against Ukrainian positions throughout July. More than 1,300 of those strikes involved multiple launch rocket systems.
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