Ukraine war briefing: Russia losing on the ground so pivots to air war, say analysts
Minimal gains on battlefield as Kyiv largely halts Moscow’s spring-summer offensive; Ukraine missile maker tests homegrown Patriot alternative. What we know on day 1,562
TL;DR
- Russia's territorial gains have sharply decreased, with May 2026 seeing the smallest monthly gains since October 2023.
- Ukrainian forces have largely halted the Russian spring-summer offensive.
- Russia's war machine is hampered by Western sanctions, shrinking industrial capacity, and dwindling weaponry stocks.
- Ukraine's Fire Point has successfully test-flown a ballistic missile intended for air defense, a potential alternative to foreign-supplied systems.
- Attacks in occupied Crimea and Donetsk region resulted in civilian casualties, with drone strikes hitting buildings and a bus.
- Russian shelling killed civilians in Kramatorsk and Dnipro, while drone attacks in Kherson and Dnipro also caused casualties and damage.
- Ukrainian drones struck energy and military sites in St. Petersburg, including a guided-missile corvette, causing embarrassment for President Putin.
- EU diplomat Kaja Kallas stated that Ukrainian deep strikes on Russian oil facilities are causing 'panic' and funding the war, while the EU prepares more sanctions.
- Germany, France, and the UK are working with Kyiv on plans to engage Russia in negotiations to end the war, with a window for dialogue slowly opening.