Russian forces capture less land than Ukraine liberates in August — ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on September 1 that Russian forces captured less land than Ukraine liberated during August 2026. According to geolocated evidence, Russian troops gained control over about 90.35 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory that month, averaging 2.91 square kilometers per day. However, this capture rate marked a significant decline from the 505.55 square kilometers Russia seized in the same period of 2025.

Ukrainian forces liberated an estimated 129.81 square kilometers in August 2026, surpassing Russia's total of 123.53 square kilometers captured and infiltrated combined. This figure is likely an underestimation, as ISW's methodology tends to undercount Ukrainian advances. Russian forces have advanced into or infiltrated 72.23% of Kostyantynivka, but have not fully captured the city.

Throughout August 2026, Russian forces suffered 42,020 personnel casualties, a second consecutive month of losses exceeding 40,000 troops. The attrition rate amounted to 340 soldiers per square kilometer seized, or 465 soldiers per square kilometer of fully seized terrain. The slow and limited territorial advances of Russian forces raise concerns about their ability to sustain this operational tempo without introducing new forms of domestic mobilization.