Russia drops 8,300 glide bombs on Ukraine in July

Russia unleashed a record 8,300 glide bombs on Ukraine in July, as Kyiv reported the highest Russian casualties so far this year and warned of an impending wave of half a million mobilised reservists in October. Ukraine’s defence ministry says Moscow has never dropped so many guided bombs in a single month, using them to compensate for poor battlefield progress and domestic energy shortages. The bombs, which can be launched from beyond Ukraine’s air defences, have overwhelmed frontline troops and civilians alike, deepening the humanitarian toll of the 33-month war.

Russia’s latest escalation comes as its army faces mounting losses and shrinking gains. Ukraine’s General Staff claims Moscow suffered 42,800 casualties in July alone, a figure unconfirmed by independent sources. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has estimated total Ukrainian losses at 450,000, including 50,000 dead. The war’s casualty imbalance appears to be widening: drones alone accounted for 30,272 Russian losses in July, according to Zelenskyy. Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russia captured just 37.85 square kilometres in July—a fraction of the 455,000 sq km it took in the same month last year.

The Kremlin has avoided full mobilisation so far, fearing domestic unrest, but pressure is building. Zelenskyy believes Putin may order up to 500,000 reservists by autumn. If forced to deploy conscripts, the move could erode Putin’s support at home. Russia’s tactics have shifted too: it now infiltrates small groups of troops ahead of reinforcements, contesting Ukrainian control in areas like Kostiantynivka, a key fortress city where defenders warn they may not hold out past a few more months. Ukraine has pushed back some infiltrations but the tactic risks stretching thin already strained forces.

The rising use of glide bombs and ballistic missiles shows both sides are running out of options. Ukraine’s air defences, though improved, cannot stop every strike. Russia, meanwhile, is burning through precision-guided munitions while its economy struggles to sustain the war. The coming months could decide whether Putin doubles down on escalation or seeks a face-saving exit—as casualties mount and territorial gains dwindle, neither outcome looks likely to bring peace.