Russian forces are increasingly relying on glide bomb strikes to advance on the strategic city of Kostyantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, according to the Institute for the Study of War’s latest assessment published July 29. Russia’s superior aviation capabilities are enabling infantry advances in and near the city, with glide bombs used to turn urban areas into rubble and destroy Ukrainian strongpoints.
The situation in and near Kostyantynivka is deteriorating, though Russian forces have not yet seized the city despite claims to the contrary. Fighting is expected to continue for several weeks as Russian forces try to consolidate positions gained through infiltration tactics. Geolocated footage published on July 25 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently maintained positions in the southeastern outskirts of Kostyantynivka, but Russian forces are also infiltrating beyond the city’s northern outskirts.
Hromadske reported that a Ukrainian commander stated Russian forces have essentially seized Molocharka, just north of Kostyantynivka, and are moving into Izhevka northwest of it. The Ukrainian military’s press service confirmed that Russian forces are conducting active assault operations in Kostyantynivka’s industrial zone and northern parts of the city, with the situation described as dynamic and under fire control.
The ISW assessed that Russia’s reliance on glide bomb strikes to facilitate ground advances is a vulnerability that Ukraine and its Western partners can exploit. Ukraine has already significantly degraded Russia’s ground-based air defense network in sectors of the theater through sustained suppression and destruction operations. Efforts to degrade Russian aviation capabilities would likely deprive Russian forces of an important tactical advantage and help further reduce the tempo of Russian advances.
On the mobilization front, the Kremlin denied that Russia is preparing for a new wave of mobilization, likely to assuage growing public concerns ahead of September 2026 State Duma elections. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev claimed on July 28 that reports of mobilization preparations are false provocations and Ukrainian propaganda aimed at destabilizing Russia.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, citing Ukrainian intelligence, that Russian forces are preparing to launch a new significant offensive. Russia is not on track to meet its annual recruitment target of 409,000 troops for 2026. Zelenskyy reported that Russia had only recruited 221,000 troops by late July 2026 while suffering 225,500 casualties during the same period.
The Kremlin continues setting conditions to block Telegram and deny the open internet in Russia, possibly in preparation for compulsory military mobilization. The Russian Federal Security Service charged Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov on July 29 with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list because Telegram allegedly failed to remove channels and bots that Ukrainian intelligence services and others use for coordination.
Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian energy and industrial infrastructure on July 28 and 29, striking the Ryazan Oil Refinery roughly 465 kilometers from the international border. The facility is one of the largest oil refineries in Russia with a processing capacity of approximately 17 million tons of oil per year. Ukrainian strikes have also forced Wildberries to consider moving warehouse space to Kazakhstan, dealing a significant blow to Russia’s e-commerce sector.
Sources: Institute for the Study of War | Al Jazeera | The Guardian
Author: Pulse Of Nations Wire Desk
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