ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 17, 2026

Key Takeaways from the ISW: The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) appears committed to optimizing Russian forces for continued positional warfare in Ukraine — not for the mechanized maneuver required to make rapid, large-scale gains. Russia’s prioritization of its war efforts in Ukraine and suboptimal economic policies are reportedly triggering a broader economic decline in Russia. A Russian state-affiliated polling center recorded one of the sharpest drops in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings since the start of the war in Ukraine, following several months of steady decline. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced further personnel changes within the Ukrainian government on July 17. Russia launched one Kh-31P anti-radar missile, seven Kh-59/69 guided missiles, an