(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Ukraine Invasion Day 1,610: RU reiterates maximalist goals [1] ['Greg Dworkin', 'News Corpse'] Date: 2026-07-22 The Kremlin continues to reiterate Russia’s commitment to its maximalist war aims of complete Ukrainian capitulation while Russian forces fail to achieve operationally significant gains. Bloomberg noted, citing two sources close to the Kremlin, that Russia will return to peace negotiations only after seizing all of Donetsk Oblast, an objective that one source close to the Kremlin claimed that the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has assured Putin that Russian forces can achieve by the end of 2026. Russian forces are extremely unlikely to achieve this objective before the end of 2026, however, and the Russian rate of advance in Ukraine has slowed such that ISW is not prepared to assess that Russian forces can seize all of Donetsk Oblast on any timeline.[3] Key Takeaways The Kremlin continues to reiterate Russia’s commitment to its maximalist war aims of complete Ukrainian capitulation while Russian forces fail to achieve operationally significant gains. * The Kremlin appears to be setting conditions for potential mobilization and is preparing for possible civil unrest in Russia resulting from mobilization. * Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to downplay Russia’s economic problems despite the ongoing fuel shortage crisis and broader Russian economic decline. * Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Ukrainian General Staff Deputy Chief Major General Ihor Skybyuk as the chief of the Ukrainian General Staff on July 22 to replace Major General Andriy Hnatov. * Ukrainian forces struck two additional logistics facilities of Russia’s largest online retailer Wildberries (roughly equivalent to Russia’s version of Amazon) overnight on July 21 to 22. * Russia launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile, three Kh-59/69 cruise missiles, and 216 drones against Ukraine overnight. * Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka direction. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile and three Kh-59/69 guided missiles from occupied Crimea and 216 Shahed-type strike drones and Gerbera-, Italmas-, and Parodiya-type decoy drones from Bryansk and Oryol cities; Millerovo, Rostov Oblast; Primorsk-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; occupied Donetsk City; and occupied Hvardiiske, Crimea.[83] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed three Kh-59/69 guided missiles and 204 drones, that one Iskander-M ballistic missile and 12 drones struck 12 locations, and that downed aerial object fragments struck seven locations. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces struck residential, industrial, and fuel infrastructure in Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Zaporizhia oblasts.[84] Ukrainian state energy operator Ukrenergo reported on July 22 that Russian strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure caused power outages in Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Sumy oblasts.[85] The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on July 20 that Russian forces struck a UNICEF warehouse in Bilohorodka, Kyiv Oblast on July 19 to 20, and destroyed 106,000 items of humanitarian supplies.[86] Ukraine's air defenses downed or suppressed 207 targets overnight, including three Kh-59/69 missiles and 204 drones. Russia launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile and 216 drones in total. The missile and 12 attack drones hit 12 locations; debris fell at seven more. #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/xr9nKGjIJ6 — NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) July 22, 2026 Ukrainian forces struck oil infrastructure and Wildberries (the closest Russian equivalent of Amazon) warehouses in Krasnodar and Stavropol krais overnight on July 21 to 22. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on July 22 that Ukrainian forces struck logistics centers involved in providing Russian forces with drone components and navigation equipment and an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai and Stavropol Krai.[22] Krasnodar Krai authorities acknowledged on July 21 that over 16 Ukrainian drones targeted Armavir, Krasnodar Krai (about 475 kilometers from the frontline) and that an unspecified number struck an oil depot, causing a large fire.[23] Geolocated footage published on July 21 shows fires burning at Wildberries logistics hubs in Krasnodar City (roughly 360 kilometers from the frontline) and Nevinnomyssk, Stavropol Krai (roughly 550 kilometers from the frontline).[24] Wildberries CEO Tatyana Kim acknowledged on July 21 that Ukrainian forces struck two Wildberries logistics centers in Krasnodar City and Nevinnomyssk.[25] Ukrainian forces previously struck several Wildberries warehouses in Moscow Oblast and Tambov Oblast on the nights of July 18 to 19 and 20 to 21.[26] Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign continues to force Russian authorities to restrict airspace in Moscow City. Russian outlet Kommersant reported on July 22 that Russian state aviation regulator Rosaviatsia issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) lowering flight altitudes near Moscow City to 4,900 meters and banned transit flights over the city.[27] Kommersant noted that the ban on transit flights will reduce the volume of flights but increase fuel consumption and flight time. Rosaviatsia previously restricted civilian flight altitudes to 5,200 in the airspace above Moscow City, most of Moscow Oblast, and parts of Ryazan, Tula, Kaluga, Tver, Yaroslavl, and Vladimir oblasts on June 17, 2026, but Ukrainian strikes against Russian territory have only intensified since then.[28] ISW continues to assess that Russia has largely failed to defend its rear against Ukrainian strikes and that growing airspace restrictions are part of the Kremlin’s effort to mitigate the threat of Ukrainian drones.[29] Every day at 9 AM, Ukraine observes a national moment of silence to honor and remember those killed by Russia. — UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) 2026-07-23T00:08:03.062Z "Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success." Napoleon Hill The combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to July 22, 2026. pic.twitter.com/L0ds8VFUik — Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) July 22, 2026 ⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JUL 22, 2026 ■ Engagements, casualties, and equipment losses below the 7-day average ■ Notable losses of special equipment (9 units) ■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: 3 of 4 missiles intercepted and a good drone interception rate, but 19 locations… pic.twitter.com/FQpenvQCm7 — Ragnar Gudmundsson 🇮🇸🇺🇦 (@ragnarbjartur) July 22, 2026 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Operational update as of 10:00 p.m. on July 22, 2026, regarding the Russian invasion. In total, 211 combat engagements have taken place since the start of this 24-hour period. The aggressor launched one missile strike, fired two missiles, carried out 54 airstrikes using 187 guided bombs, deployed 5,746 kamikaze drones for attacks, and carried out 1,838 shelling attacks on the positions of our troops and populated areas. In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, since the start of the day, the enemy has carried out two airstrikes using eight guided aerial bombs and conducted 41 shelling attacks on the positions of our troops and populated areas, including one using a multiple launch rocket system. Over the past 24 hours, in the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy launched nine assaults on the positions of our units in the Fygolivka area and toward the settlements of Ternova, Prylipka, Kutkivka, and Maly Burluk. Two firefights are ongoing. In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched one attack toward Kupiansk. Thirteen attempts by the invaders to advance were repelled in the Lyman sector in the areas of Novomykhailivka, Novoselivka, and toward Lyman, Drobysheve, Stavky, and Ozerny. One engagement is still ongoing. In the Sloviansk sector, the Defense Forces successfully halted 20 attempts by the invaders to advance in the areas around the settlements of Kryva Luka and Riznykivka, as well as toward Piskunivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka. Four more attacks are currently underway. In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian invaders carried out four attacks in the area of Nikiforivka and toward Vasyutynske and Yurkivka. In the Kostiantynivka sector, the Defense Forces repelled 17 enemy assaults in the areas around the settlements of Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, and Rusyn Yar, as well as toward the settlement of Dovha Balka. The enemy carried out 24 attacks in the Pokrovsk sector. The occupiers attempted to advance in the areas around the settlements of Hryshyne, Vasylivka, Kotlyne, and Udachne, as well as toward the settlements of Vilne, Kucheryv Yar, Nove Shakhove, Bilytske, Novyi Donbas, Svitle, Shevchenko, and Serhiivka. One firefight is still ongoing. According to preliminary estimates, 33 occupiers were killed and 23 wounded here today; three vehicles and one piece of specialized equipment were destroyed. One tank, two artillery systems, five vehicles, and 49 enemy personnel shelters were damaged. A total of 285 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were destroyed or neutralized. According to preliminary estimates, 33 occupiers were killed and 23 wounded here today; three vehicles and one piece of specialized equipment were destroyed. One tank, two artillery systems, five vehicles, and 49 enemy personnel shelters were damaged. A total of 285 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were destroyed or neutralized. In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched three attacks in the areas of Ternove and Kalynivske. In the Huliaipole sector, the Defense Forces successfully repelled nine enemy attacks toward Vozdvizhivka, Dobropillia, Staroukrainka, Hirkyi, Tsvitkove, and Charivne. In the Orikhiv sector, our defenders halted five enemy attempts to advance in the areas around the settlements of Mala Tokmachka, Mali Shcherbaky, Shcherbaky, and toward Pavlivka. One battle is still ongoing. In the Dnipro sector, the enemy did not conduct any offensive operations. In other areas, there have been no significant changes in the situation. Let’s defeat the enemy and bring our Victory closer! Glory to Ukraine! NEW: The Kremlin continues to reiterate Russia’s commitment to its maximalist war aims of complete Ukrainian capitulation while Russian forces fail to achieve operationally significant gains. (1/7)Read the full report: isw.pub/UkrWar072226 — Institute for the Study of War (@thestudyofwar.bsky.social) 2026-07-23T02:17:47.000Z 16-year-old Vadym from the Kyiv region was still in high school when he built PhAInix, a device that protects Ukrainian drones from russian electronic warfare. The war brought Vadym to this invention. His father serves as a drone operator with the 79th Air Assault Brigade.Thank you, Vadym! — UNITED24 (@u24.gov.ua) 2026-07-22T19:06:04.496Z [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/22/800073570/community/ukraine-invasion-day-1610/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/