Russian forces
Operational catch-all for Russia's military conducting the Ukraine war.
Last refreshed: 13 May 2026
How much do Russian LNG revenues contribute to funding the Ukraine war, and what happens when the ban cuts in?
Timeline for Russian forces
Mentioned in: Russian deaths up while engagements fall
Russia-Ukraine War 2026Mentioned in: Russia's first net territorial loss since Kursk
Russia-Ukraine War 2026Mentioned in: Kyiv calls Putin truce offer theatrical
Russia-Ukraine War 2026Mentioned in: Russia steps up tempo, eases death rate
Russia-Ukraine War 2026Mentioned in: Putin calls solo 32-hour Easter truce
Russia-Ukraine War 2026- How is Russia's war in Ukraine linked to European gas prices in 2026?
- Russian gas and LNG revenues directly fund the military budget. Ceasefire speculation drove TTF down to EUR 42.26 on 11 April 2026. The EU Russian LNG ban on 25 April targets Novatek/Gazprom export income.Source: Lowdown / Bruegel
- What is the current state of the Russia-Ukraine war in April 2026?
- Russian forces advance rate slowed to 33-50 sq km per week by March 2026, down from 130-150 in mid-2025, as Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia counteroffensive reclaimed 33 net square miles. Putin declared a 32-hour Easter truce, reportedly violated by both sides.Source: ISW / Lowdown
- Will an end to the Ukraine war reduce European gas prices?
- A Ceasefire would reshape LNG demand assumptions significantly: TTF fell to EUR 42.26 on Ceasefire speculation alone. The EU Russian LNG ban and the structural shift to non-Russian supply, however, would limit the price benefit even if the war ends.Source: Lowdown
- What is the difference between Russian forces and the Russian Armed Forces?
- In Lowdown's reporting, 'Russian forces' is the operational umbrella covering ground troops, air assets, missile units, naval arms, Wagner successor formations, and Rosgvardia paramilitaries engaged in Ukraine. 'Russian Armed Forces' refers to the formal institutional structure under the Ministry of Defence.Source: Lowdown editorial
- How many troops does Russia have deployed in Ukraine in 2026?
- Western and Ukrainian estimates put Russian frontline strength at roughly 600,000 personnel across all formations, though exact figures are disputed and include both regular army and mobilised reservists.Source: Ukrainian General Staff
- Why are Russian forces making territorial gains in eastern Ukraine in 2026?
- Russia entered 2026 with momentum from the 2025 Kurakhove and Velyka Novosilka captures. Continued pressure in Donetsk Oblast, combined with Ukrainian ammunition shortages and attritional losses, enabled incremental advances along multiple front sectors.Source: Institute for the Study of War
- What weapons are Russian forces using against Ukrainian cities in 2026?
- Russian forces have deployed Shahed-series drones, Kh-101 Cruise Missiles, Iskander-M Ballistic Missiles, and glide-bomb variants including FAB-500 and FAB-1500 UMPK kits as primary strike tools against Ukrainian infrastructure and urban areas.Source: Ukrainian Air Force
- Who commands Russian forces in Ukraine?
- General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, holds overall command. Army General Aleksandr Lapin commands the Joint Group of Forces in Ukraine as of 2025, overseeing the four operational groupings (North, West, South, East/Centre).Source: Russian Ministry of Defence
Background
Russian forces refers to Russia's military, encompassing ground, air, missile, and naval arms under the Russian Ministry of Defence, together with parallel Wagner Group successor formations and Rosgvardia paramilitary units. In the Ukraine war, Russian forces entered 2026 with territorial momentum but decelerating: advance rates fell from 130-150 sq km per week in mid-2025 to 33-50 sq km per week by March 2026, as Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia counteroffensive reclaimed net 33 square miles. Putin declared a unilateral 32-hour Easter truce on 19 April 2026, immediately violated by both sides according to Ukrainian reporting.
The connection between Russian forces and European energy markets is direct: Russian gas and LNG revenues fund the military budget, which allocates 38-40% of federal spending to defence. The EU's 25 April 2026 Russian LNG ban — cutting short-term contracts — is designed to reduce this revenue stream. Speculation about a Ceasefire or peace negotiations drove TTF down to EUR 42.26 on 11 April 2026, illustrating how military developments directly affect European gas prices.
Russian forces also retain the capacity to use Energy infrastructure as leverage: Balkan Stream, the only remaining Russian pipeline route to central Europe, was the subject of a foiled sabotage attack in Serbia in April 2026, reminding markets that Moscow benefits from — and is politically exposed to — the physical security of its remaining export infrastructure.
