Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of April 18, 2026.
This report is part of EMPR’s April 2026 Russia-Ukraine war timeline, tracking daily battlefield and geopolitical developments. For full coverage of this escalation phase, see the complete timeline.
Today is the 1,515th day of the full-scale armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine.
The Defense Forces continue to repel attempts by the occupiers to improve their positions and advance deeper into Ukrainian territory, inflicting significant losses in personnel and equipment on the enemy.
Update as of 08:00 AM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
In total, 151 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.
Yesterday, the enemy carried out one missile strike, using one missile, conducted 63 airstrikes, and dropped 217 guided aerial bombs. In addition, they deployed 9,305 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,447 shelling attacks on populated areas and positions of our troops, including 106 using multiple launch rocket systems.
The aggressor carried out airstrikes, in particular in the areas of the settlements of Ivanivka and Kolomiytsi in the Dnipropetrovsk region; Kopani, Rivne, Barvinivka, Liubytske, Vozdvyzhivka, Tsvitkove, Shevchenkivske, Lisne, Charivne, Myrne, and Zarichne in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Over the past day, aviation, missile forces, and artillery of the Defense Forces struck two artillery guns, one UAV control point, and seven areas of concentration of enemy personnel and equipment.
Update as of 04:00 PM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
Since the beginning of the day, the aggressor has attacked the positions of the Defense Forces 54 times.
Artillery shelling of border areas is ongoing. Today, in the Sumy region, the settlements of Iskryskivshchyna, Tovstodubove, Bachivsk, Rohizne, Korenok, Sopych, Volfyne, Kucherivka, Holyshivske, Ryzhivka, Stukalivka, Budky, Prohres, and Kozache have been affected.
Update as of 10:00 PM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
In total, 135 combat engagements have taken place since the beginning of this day.
Today, the enemy carried out 47 airstrikes, dropping 135 guided aerial bombs. In addition, they deployed 6,140 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,553 shelling attacks on populated areas and positions of our troops.
EMPR updates by Directions
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: the Russian enemy carried out two airstrikes yesterday, dropped five guided aerial bombs, conducted 82 shelling attacks on our positions and settlements, four of which involved multiple launch rocket systems. Three enemy assault actions were recorded.
04:00 PM: two combat engagements took place; the enemy carried out 44 shelling attacks on populated areas and positions of our troops, one of which involved the use of a multiple launch rocket system.
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers attempted three times to break through the defensive lines of our defenders in the area of Vovchanski Khutory and toward Neskuchne and Bochkovе.
04:00 PM: the russian occupiers twice assaulted the positions of our units in the area of Vovchansk.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: the aggressor attacked twice toward Petropavlivka.
04:00 PM: the russian forces attempted twice to improve its tactical position toward Novoplatonivka. One engagement is ongoing.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers twice attempted to penetrate our defenses, attacking near Hrekivka and toward Lyman.
04:00 PM: four russian assaults have taken place toward Stavky and Lyman. Two engagements are still ongoing.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped three attempts by the occupiers to advance near Yampil and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.
04:00 PM: the Russians carried out two attacks on Defense Forces positions near Yampil.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: no offensive actions by the Russians were recorded.
04:00 PM: the russian occupiers attacked Defense Forces positions twice near the settlement of Nykyforivka.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops carried out 22 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Kostiantynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Illinivka, Rusyn Yar, Stepanivka, Sofiivka, and Novopavlivka.
04:00 PM: the russian occupiers carried out 12 attacks in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Illinivka, Sofiivka, and toward Novopavlivka. Three engagements are ongoing.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled 33 assault actions by the aggressor in the areas of Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Myrnohrad, Molodetske, Shevchenko, Muravka, Udachne, and Novopavlivka.
04:00 PM: the russian occupiers have attempted 13 times to push our troops out of their positions in the areas of Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, and toward the settlements of Shevchenko, Bilitske, and Novopavlivka. Two engagements are still ongoing.
Oleksandrivka Direction
08:00 AM: the russian enemy attacked 10 times toward Kalynivske, Verbove, Zlahoda, Vorone, and Oleksandrohrad.
04:00 PM: Ukrainian defenders repelled three russian attacks toward Kalynivske, Verbove, and Oleksandrohrad. Airstrikes targeted Velykomykhailivka, Kolomiytsi, Andriivka, and Fedorivske. One engagement is ongoing.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: 12 russian attacks took place toward the settlements of Huliaipilske, Zelene, Dobropillia, Olenokostiantynivka, Zaliznychne, Staroukrainka, Sviatopetrivka, and in the area of Huliaipole.
04:00 PM: the Defense Forces repelled nine russian attacks toward the settlements of Sviatopetrivka, Staroukrainka, Zaliznychne, Olenokostiantynivka, and in the areas of Varvarivka, Pryluky, and Tsvitkove. One battle is ongoing. The enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Vozdvyzhivka, Nizhenka, Zirnytsia, Verkhna Tersa, Charivne, and Liubytske.
Orikhiv Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers attacked twice near the settlements of Shcherbaky and Stepnohirsk.
04:00 PM: The settlements of Mykilske, Yurkivka, and Zarichne were subjected to airstrikes in the Orikhiv direction.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the Russians conducted four unsuccessful assault actions toward the Antonivskyi Bridge.
04:00 PM: the russian occupiers conducted three unsuccessful assault attempts toward the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Volyn and Polissia Directions
08:00 AM and 04:00PM: no signs of enemy offensive group formations were detected.
Ukrainian defenders continue to provide effective resistance along all sections of the front.
Overall, over the past day, Russian invaders’ losses amounted to 1,080 personnel. Ukrainian forces also neutralized six tanks, 10 armored combat vehicles, 82 artillery systems, four multiple launch rocket systems, 2,104 operational-tactical UAVs, and 180 units of automotive equipment.
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