Ukraine Downs Russian Spy Drone at Record 6,400 Meters as Pressure Grows on Kostiantynivka

In the Ukraine conflict, Russian forces are intensifying pressure on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast with infiltration attempts while Ukrainian forces set a record by downing a Russian reconnaissance drone at 6,400 meters.

Ukraine conflict Developments on Multiple Fronts

Russian troops are attempting to establish positions inside Kostiantynivka to reinforce infantry and risk encircling Ukrainian defenders at Chasiv Yar if they seize Novodmytrivka. [2] Russian artillery, guided bombs, drones, and MLRS are bombarding Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and surrounding areas, gradually isolating the urban zone and making civilian movement extremely dangerous up to 40 km from the front. [2] Ukrainian National Guard's Lasar's Group destroyed a Russian Zala Z-20 reconnaissance drone at 6,400 meters altitude in southern Ukraine in late July. [1] Russia lost 1,310 soldiers over the past day, with total personnel losses reaching 1,443,450 since February 2022 along with substantial equipment losses. [3] The Pivdennyi Mining and Processing Plant suspended extraction operations due to the Russian blockade of Black Sea ports that halted iron ore exports. [5]

Russian Pressure on Kostiantynivka and Sloviansk-Kramatorsk Front

Russian forces are continuing to intensify pressure on the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast and the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk front. [2] The enemy is continuing to pressure Kostiantynivka, making constant infiltration attempts. [2] They are trying to establish positions inside the city itself in order to reinforce their infantry presence and consolidate their hold on the area. [2] One of their main objectives remains taking control of the section of the city between Illinivka and Novodmytrivka. [2] If the enemy succeeds in occupying the latter, the entire Ukrainian grouping defending Chasiv Yar could face the threat of encirclement. [2] Logistics to the city have long been severely complicated, as the enemy enjoys air superiority created by its large number of drones. [2] While Russian forces are pressing their infantry assault on Kostiantynivka, they are simultaneously using artillery and guided aerial bombs to destroy the city. [2] The surrounding urban area is also under constant attack, and Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka and Druzhkivka are gradually being reduced to ruins. [2] It is currently extremely dangerous to be there. [2] Russian forces are increasing pressure on the defence forces positions along the section stretching roughly from Yampil to Minkivka. [2] Ukrainian commanders are preparing for an escalation in assault operations, describing this area as the next major direction of attack after any potential capture of Kostiantynivka. [2] At present, Russian artillery is targeting potential advance routes and destroying minefields. [2] Russian forces are continuously conducting infiltration attempts and probing the line of contact for weak points. [2] They have identified opportunities to advance near Ozerne and Kryva Luka, but the defence forces are doing everything possible to prevent Russian troops from pushing deeper into the area. [2] Rai-Oleksandrivka and Mykolaivka are regarded as priority objectives for the Russian military in this sector. [2] Russian drones are also actively targeting Ukrainian logistics. [2] Sloviansk and Kramatorsk are being relentlessly bombarded with guided aerial bombs, multiple-launch rocket systems, Shahed and FPV drones that fly through city streets, targeting civilians and cars at random. [2] Explosions continue throughout the night, particularly due to Russian multiple-launch rocket system strikes, which are gradually reducing the cities to ruins. [2] Russian forces can now keep areas up to 40 km beyond the line of contact under constant fire, posing a serious threat to any movement. [2] The Sloviansk-Kramatorsk urban area is gradually becoming isolated, and it may soon only be accessible for essential military operations. [2] Life in these cities is becoming increasingly dangerous as technology-driven warfare continues to dominate. [2]

Russian forces intensify infiltration attempts near Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. — Source: ukrainskapravda

Record Ukrainian Drone Interception

Drone operators from the Lasar's Group unit have destroyed a Russian Zala Z-20 reconnaissance drone at an altitude of 6,400 m, setting a record for the highest successful aerial interception. [1] According to Major General Oleksandr Pivnenko, Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, 6,400 m is the altitude at which fighters from Lasar's Group attack drone unit from the National Guard of Ukraine have destroyed a Russian Zala Z-20 reconnaissance drone, setting a record for the highest successful interception. [1] The interceptor drone crew detected and destroyed the Russian UAV in Ukraine's south in late July. [1] The Z-20 is designed for reconnaissance and target detection at distances exceeding 100 km. [1] In an apparent attempt to avoid interception, Russian forces flew the drone at an altitude of 6,400 metres. [1] However, the higher altitude proved no obstacle for the Lasar's Group crew, whose pilot caught up with the target and shot it down. [1]

Daily Russian Personnel and Equipment Losses

Russia has lost 1,310 soldiers killed and wounded over the past day, bringing its total number of personnel losses to 1,443,450. [3] The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 29 July 2026 are estimated to be approximately 1,443,450 (+1,310) military personnel, 12,227 (+1) tanks, 25,044 (+6) armoured combat vehicles, 46,962 (+60) artillery systems, 1,973 (+3) multiple-launch rocket systems, 1,521 (+2) air defence systems, 439 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft, 354 (+0) helicopters, 2,063 (+9) ground robotic systems, 432,778 (+1,468) operational-tactical UAVs, 4,950 (+0) cruise missiles, 34 (+0) ships/boats, 2 (+0) submarines, 127,181 (+331) vehicles and fuel tankers, and 4,478 (+2) special vehicles and other equipment. [3] The information is being confirmed. [3]

Ukrainian forces down Russian Zala Z-20 reconnaissance drone at record 6,400 meters altitude. — Source: ukrainskapravda

Economic Impact from Black Sea Port Blockade

The Pivdennyi Mining and Processing Plant has begun the process of suspending extraction and temporarily scaling back operations. [5] The decision was made because of continued Russian attacks on civilian merchant vessels heading to Black Sea ports. [5] The company said it will continue to meet its obligations to employees and partners and will resume extraction once the security situation allows. [5] Several shiploads of iron ore intended for export have accumulated both at ports and at the Pivdennyi Mining and Processing Plant's warehouses. [5] Because the plant can no longer stockpile the extracted products, it was forced to temporarily suspend operations. [5] Extraction is planned to resume in August 2026. [5] Until then, the company will involve employees in repair work. [5] As of 23 July, inbound vessel traffic to Ukraine's Black Sea ports has been suspended due to the threat of Russian attacks. [5] This followed weeks of air attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports. [5] Maersk has suspended its service at the Black Sea port due to intensified Russian strikes on port infrastructure. [5]

Broader Regional Tensions Involving Iran

The attack by Ukraine against an Iranian vessel could bring two wars closer. [4] The Ukrainian attack last weekend against an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea has highlighted the links between the wars both countries are waging, raising tensions between them as well as the risk of a more direct confrontation. [4] Ukraine claimed the ship was carrying military equipment between Iran and Russia. [4] Iranian authorities, for their part, said it was a merchant vessel and accused Ukraine of having killed a sailor in the attack. [4] Iranian officials threatened retaliation in a series of statements and comments to the media. [4] Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha responded forcefully, telling Iran that it "had no right to claim to be a victim" given its military support for Russia in its war with Ukraine. [4] Iran and Russia maintain a close military relationship that dates back decades. [4] The most visible example of this is the long-range attack drones that Iran has supplied to Russia. [4] Russia launched swarms of drones across Ukraine within months of its invasion in 2022, with devastating consequences. [4] Russia subsequently began manufacturing its own versions of the Iranian drones. [4] The United States has also accused Iran of supplying Russia with short-range ballistic missiles. [4] Ukraine claimed that Iran had sent instructors to help the Russian army use drone systems, an accusation Iran denied. [4] The widespread use of drones, particularly the relatively cheap ones supplied by Iran, transformed the war in Ukraine and, more broadly, changed the way military planners assess the needs of modern armies. [4] It also forced Ukraine to develop anti-drone technologies that analysts say now rival conventional air defence systems. [4] Four years after Russia deployed those Iranian drones against Ukraine, Ukraine has now brought its hard-won experience fighting them to the Middle East. [4] Following the start of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran at the end of February, the Iranian military launched waves of drones against US military targets in the Gulf countries. [4] Ukraine saw an opportunity to showcase and export its low-cost anti-drone systems. [4] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in March that more than 200 Ukrainian military experts had been sent to the Middle East to help defend its allies against Iranian drones. [4] Ukraine has also sealed defence agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, focused on countering Iranian missile and drone threats. [4] Ukraine has increasingly presented its war with Russia and the war in the Middle East as interrelated conflicts, claiming that Iran and Russia are helping each other in their respective conflicts. [4] On Saturday, Zelensky stated that Ukrainian intelligence had gathered evidence that Russia was providing Iran with satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and US military bases in the region, helping Iran plan and execute attacks. [4] He added that Ukraine would share this information with its Western allies. [4] That same day, Ukraine attacked an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, accusing it of transporting military cargo between Iran and Russia, without specifying in which direction. [4] Zelensky also met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday afternoon and said both leaders discussed how to strengthen Ukraine's air defence capabilities. [4] In a post on the social platform X, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi directly linked the ship attack to the Middle East conflict, describing the attack as a "flagrant violation of the UN Charter" and stating that it had been carried out "at the behest of Israel to drag Europe into its war." [4] Araghchi added that he had spoken with both the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Russia's Foreign Minister to make clear that the attack "CANNOT GO UNANSWERED." [4] On Tuesday, Sybiha sought to calm tensions, stating in a social media post that he had called Araghchi to coordinate and avoid misunderstandings. [4] "Our position remains the same: Europe and the Middle East deserve stability, security and peace," he said. [4]

What to watch next

Observers will monitor whether Russian infiltration attempts near Kostiantynivka lead to further advances toward Novodmytrivka and whether the National Guard's record drone interception at 6,400 meters prompts additional high-altitude operations by Ukrainian units in the south.

Further Reading

• Ukraine War Map