Young Russian soldier, age 21, triumphs over torment: Traumatic experiences etched into biological recall
Headline: Russia Makes Gradual Territorial Gains in Ukraine as War Enters its Third Year
As the Ukraine War enters its third year, Russia continues to make steady gains on Ukrainian soil. In a report by ntv correspondent Rainer Munz, it was stated that Donald Trump's statements about a shortened customs deadline have sparked little reaction in Russia.
Territorial Changes and Military Advances
Over the past month, Russian forces have captured approximately 234 square miles of Ukrainian territory, marking a 20% increase from May 2025. From June 24 to July 22, 2025, Russia gained about 180 square miles compared to 216 square miles in the previous 29-day period. Russian forces continue attacks in key areas such as western Zaporizhia Oblast, but not all offensives yield territorial gains. Recent advances took place in the Lyman, Toretsk, Novopavlivka, and Velyka Novosilka directions.
Ukraine is actively resisting, destructing Russian strategic bombers and shooting down aircraft, but is suffering casualties and infrastructure strikes.
Losses and Casualties
Estimates of Russian casualties vary, with a U.K. Defense Ministry estimate in June 2025 reporting over 1,000,000 Russian servicemen killed or injured, including about 250,000 killed. NATO's Secretary-General reported 100,000 Russian soldier deaths in 2025 alone. Ukraine suffers losses from Russian missile strikes; for example, on July 29, 2025, a Russian missile strike killed 3 Ukrainian servicemen and injured 18 at a training facility.
Political and Diplomatic Context
US President Donald Trump has set a deadline of August 9, 2025, for Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war. Trump also has threatened to impose tariffs and other measures if no progress is made. Kremlin messaging frames the war as a geopolitical confrontation with the West to maintain domestic support.
Human Interest
Amidst the ongoing conflict, a glimmer of hope emerged with the story of 21-year-old Ukrainian soldier, Denys Zalizko, who survived Russian torture during his 15-month captivity.
International Relations
The head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, has arrived in Houston for talks with NASA. The meeting between Rogozin and NASA's acting chief, Sean O'Keefe, is scheduled for July 31. Meanwhile, the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kowalenko, reports a Russian drone allegedly flying over Lithuania's capital, Vilnius.
In addition, a Russian airstrike has killed 16 inmates and injured 35 in a prison in the Saporischschja region, according to Ukrainian authorities.
As the war continues, both sides remain entrenched, with diplomatic efforts under pressure to find a resolution to the conflict.
[1] BBC News [2] CNN [3] The Guardian [4] Reuters
- The ongoing Ukraine War, now in its third year, has not only resulted in territorial gains for Russia but also sparked political debates, as seen in the diplomatic exchanges between the US and Russia, particularly regarding the custom deadline and potential tariffs proposed by President Trump.
- As the war intensifies, employment policies in both Russia and Ukraine may be impacted due to the significant number of casualties and loss of lives, potentially leading to changes in community policies aimed at supporting war veterans and their families. For instance, the Ukraine War has reportedly resulted in over 1,000,000 Russian servicemen killed or injured, and 100,000 Russian soldier deaths in 2025 alone, as per NATO's Secretary-General, which could have far-reaching employment implications.
