Ukrainian forces have largely halted Russian Spring-Summer 2026 offensive, ISW says
Ukrainian forces have largely halted Russia's Spring-Summer 2026 offensive, with Russian forces gaining only a fraction of the territory they did in May 2025, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The slowdown appears unrelated to seasonal weather and likely reflects broader battlefield shifts. Russian President Vladimir Putin is resisting pressure to cut defense spending despite warnings from economic officials about unsustainable strain on the economy.
Ukrainian forces have largely halted Russia's Spring-Summer 2026 offensive, with Russian troops in May 2026 gaining a presence in only a fraction of the territory they captured in May 2025, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Other sources employing different methodologies also record a slow Russian rate of advance in May 2026, the ISW noted. The declining gains appear unrelated to seasonal weather shifts that traditionally hinder military advances and are likely the result of more comprehensive battlefield shifts in 2026, the think tank assessed.
In a specific tactical development, Ukrainian forces advanced in the Pokrovsk direction. Separately, Russian forces launched 265 long-range drones at Ukraine overnight.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly resisting pressure to reduce defense spending and end the war against Ukraine despite increased warnings from economic officials about the unsustainable strain the war effort is putting on the Russian economy, the ISW reported. Putin's unwillingness to cut defense spending and scale down his war effort suggests he believes he will be able to win the war in the near to medium term and that the Russian economy can hold on until then, the ISW assessed.
The assessment follows a separate report on June 1 indicating Russian territorial gains in Ukraine fell to 14 square kilometers in May, the lowest monthly total in three years.