Apart from the first months of the war in 2022, when the front line was much more mobile than at present, only the month of November 2024 (725 km2) had experienced Russian advances larger than those of the past month.
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Almost three -quarters of the Russian increase in July are concentrated in the Donetsk (East) region, the main theater of clashes between Russians and Ukrainians for two years.
The Russian army controls at least partially or claims 78% of the Donestk region to the end of July, compared to 62% a year earlier. Some 31% of this region were already under the control of prorussian separatists before the start of the Russian invasion on a large scale in Ukraine in February 2022.
But the Russian army also recorded advances in other Ukrainian regions in July, with a net gain of around 170 km2.
In the Kharkiv region (northeast), the Moscow forces have taken nearly 120 km2, crossing for the first time since October 2022 the 5% controlled or claimed territory in this area. The Zaporijjia (East) region was also targeted, with 42 km2 advanced during the month.
Russian troops also claimed to have progressed in the Dnipropetrovsk region (Center-East). They recently announced the taking of two villages, explaining the territorial gains at 22 km2 since the launch of this offensive on June 8, according to AFP analysis, which counts the claimed territories.
kyiv denies the Russian presence in this area.
The only region where the Russian army fell is that of Soumy (North). Moscow conceded some 11 km2 there in July, after taking more than 130 km2 in June.
More broadly, the last 12 months have been marked by an increase in the Russian army in Ukraine. From August 2024 to July 2025, the Russians took nearly more than 5,900 km2 against 1,360 km2 in the previous twelve months. The Russian gain over the past year, however, represents less than 1% of the pre-war Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and Donbass.
At the end of July, Russia exercises total or partial control over almost 19% of the Ukrainian territory.
Another worrying figure
Russia has launched more drones against Ukraine in July than at any other month since the start of the invasion in 2022, according to an analysis by AFP on Friday, showing an intensification of the bombardments despite the ultimatums of Donald Trump.
The analysis, which is based on figures provided by the Ukrainian authorities, shows that the Russian army has drawn 6,297 long -range drones against Ukraine in July, an increasing figure for the third consecutive month. This is an increase of 16% compared to June.
Russia also launched 198 missiles on Ukraine during the month of July, more than for any other month this year with the exception of June, according to data analyzed by AFP.
These air attacks take place every night, pushing the inhabitants to take refuge in a shelter or in the corridors of a metro, under the din of warning sirens.
The climbing of Russian attacks using drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities led to the highest number of civilians killed or injured in June, the UN said last month.
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Ukraine has been demanding anti-aircraft defense systems for months from its European allies and hopes in particular to be able to buy modern patriot batteries in the United States, which would be paid by Europeans. These expensive systems make it possible to intercept the Russian missiles but are ineffective against salvan of hundreds of drones. Ukraine also uses groups of mobile soldiers to shoot them down.
President Donald Trump gave in June a period of 50 days to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to end the war under penalty of sanctions, before reducing it this week to ten days – until next Friday.
