Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered remarks on July 26 for Navy Day and on July 27 in a State Duma meeting, stating that Russia seeks to mobilize society and shift responsibility for the war in Ukraine onto the State Duma and the population.

He emphasized national unity around the war effort and described volunteer efforts as essential to continued fighting.

Putin said the Duma has passed nearly 3,000 bills since 2021, many supporting the war, defense, and integration of occupied regions.

A decree signed on July 27 set the authorized size of the Russian Armed Forces at 2,426,130 personnel, an increase of 27,000 since the previous decree on June 12.

The increase continues a trend of annual expansions since the 2022 invasion, adding 137,000 personnel in 2022, 170,000 in 2023 and 180,000 in 2024.

Ukrainian forces conducted long‑range drone strikes on July 26‑27 against Russian export and oil infrastructure, hitting a terminal in Rostov‑on‑Don, a storage facility in Sarapul, and oil facilities in Yaroslavl Oblast and Udmurt Republic.

Russian forces launched 147 strike drones overnight, and Ukrainian forces downed 123, with debris falling on seven locations.

Jet‑powered drones struck railway workers in Donetsk Oblast and a supermarket in Chernihiv, causing civilian casualties.

Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Sumy, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions but made no confirmed advances, while Ukrainian forces intercepted a Forpost‑R drone carrying glide bombs over Kursk Oblast, the sixth such downing.

The assessment notes that Putin seeks to sustain public support and expand troop numbers, while Ukrainian long‑range strikes have disrupted Russian logistics and energy infrastructure, though front‑line combat remains largely static.