Institute for the Study of War
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is an American think tank founded in 2007, focused on the analysis of armed conflicts and security policy. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The institute is best known for its daily assessments of the Russo-Ukrainian war and has become one of the most frequently cited Western analytical bodies on the conflict.
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Ukraine reports 191 frontline clashes and 1,510 Russian personnel losses in a day
Ukraine’s General Staff reported 191 frontline clashes over the past day and estimated Russian losses at 1,510 personnel and hundreds of military equipment units. Fighting was most intense on the Pokrovsk direction, while Russia launched missile and airstrikes, used thousands of kamikaze drones and conducted more than 2,500 shellings.
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Russian strikes trigger new power outages in six Ukrainian regions
Russian attacks on civilian energy infrastructure caused new outages in six Ukrainian regions on the morning of October 26. Energy workers began emergency repairs where security conditions allowed, while power restrictions and scheduled outages remained in effect in some areas. Ukraine’s energy agency urged consumers to limit high-power appliances from 16:00 to 22:00.
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Ukraine reports 187 combat clashes as Russian pressure concentrates around Pokrovsk and Huliaipole
Ukraine’s General Staff recorded 187 combat clashes on October 21, 2026, with Russian forces focusing attacks on the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole directions. Russia launched one missile strike and 88 airstrikes, while Ukrainian forces reported striking three concentrations of Russian personnel and equipment.
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Russia launches large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine, killing two in Kyiv
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with Iskander-K cruise missiles and 186 strike drones, targeting energy, transport, residential, commercial, educational and maritime sites across multiple regions. Ukrainian air defenses reported shooting down or suppressing 150 drones by 08:30, while 10 remained airborne. Two people were killed in Kyiv and two in Korotych, with injuries and infrastructure damage reported elsewhere.
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Budanov denies Russian capture of Dobropillia, accuses Russian commander of misleading Putin
On 20 October, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Office of the President, publicly rejected Russian claims that Russian forces had captured the city of Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast, saying the city remains under Ukrainian control. He accused the commander of Russia's "Centre" grouping, Colonel-General Andrii Ivanaiev, of deliberately misleading President Vladimir Putin about the alleged capture, and linked his statement to ongoing "difficult negotiations" aimed at a durable peace.
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General Staff reports 177 combat clashes on October 19; Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions see heaviest fighting on October 18
Ukraine's General Staff recorded 204 combat clashes along the front line on October 18 and 177 from the start of October 19 through 22:00, with the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions singled out as the most active on October 18. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted geolocated footage of a Russian serviceman raising a flag in the southeastern part of Dobropillia on October 18, while Ukrainian military command denied Russian claims of the city's capture or encirclement.
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Ukraine's Third Army Corps confirms "Vivaldi" offensive near Lyman
Ukraine's Third Army Corps publicly confirmed on September 15 that it has been running an offensive operation codenamed "Vivaldi" in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast, east and northeast of Lyman. The corps revealed details of the first phase, which targeted Russian troop infiltration and logistics, and reported Russian losses in personnel, drones and equipment. The announcement broke months of operational secrecy around the fighting.