Since May, Russia has accelerated the pace of its military offensive in Ukraine. According to data from the Ukrainian analysis group DeepState, the average number of daily Russian assaults increased from 155 in April to 184 in May − a 19% rise. On June 11, the Ukrainian General Staff recorded 220 assaults, indicating that the Russian push has only continued to intensify.

Territorial gains have followed. In May, the Russian army captured 449 km² in Ukraine, compared with 177 km² in April – 2.5 times more territory in just one month. Nonetheless, considering the massive scale of Ukraine, the Russian invasion has remained relatively slow, especially taking into account the heavy human and material losses suffered by the Russian military.

The offensive has been aided by the continental summer climate; the ground is hard, making motorized assaults easier, while the vegetation helps attackers conceal themselves. The Russian offensive has launched major ground operations every summer except in 2023, when the Ukrainian armed forces took the initiative, albeit unsuccessfully.

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