Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of April 21, 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 1,518th day of the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to repel attempts by occupying forces to improve their tactical positions and advance deeper into Ukrainian territory, inflicting significant losses in personnel and equipment.
Update as of 08:00 AM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
Over the past 24 hours, a total of 231 combat engagements were recorded.
Yesterday, the enemy carried out 78 airstrikes, dropping 287 guided aerial bombs. In addition, Russian forces deployed 7,067 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,810 shelling attacks on populated areas and Ukrainian military positions, including 65 using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Airstrikes targeted, among other locations:
- In Sumy region: Yastrubshchyna, Pavlivka,
- In Dnipropetrovsk region: Malomykhailivka, Kolomiytsi, Havrylivka, Novooleksandrivka,
- In Zaporizhzhia region: Vozdvyzhivka, Verkhnia Tersa, Huliaipilske, Dolynka, Polohy, Kopani, Sviatopetrivka, Lisne, Novoselivka, Charivne, Yurkivka, and Orikhiv.
Over the past day, Ukraine’s aviation, missile forces, and artillery struck seven areas of concentration of enemy personnel and equipment, as well as one UAV command post.
EMPR updates by Directions
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian forces carried out four airstrikes using nine guided bombs and conducted 94 shelling attacks on Ukrainian positions and settlements, including three with MLRS.
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers launched five attacks near Prylipka and toward Bochkove, Okhrimivka, and Starytsia.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces attacked five times near Novoosynove and toward Kurylivka, Petropavlivka, and Hlushkivka.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses ten times, attacking toward Stavky, Drobysheve, Lyman, Dibrova, Novoserhiivka, and Zarichne.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled two attempts by Russian troops to advance toward Rai-Oleksandrivka and Riznykivka.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian forces conducted seven attacks near Nykyforivka, Holubivka, Bondarne, Maiske, Vasiutynske, Udachne, and Markove.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces carried out 29 attacks near Pleshchiivka, Yablunivka, Ivanopillia, and toward Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Sofiivka, Novopavlivka, Kucheriv Yar, and Stepanivka.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped 51 assault attempts near the settlements of Bilytske, Nykonorivka, Rodynske, Shevchenko, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novomykolaivka, Muravka, Molodetske, Novopidhorodne, Novopavlivka, Vasylivka, and Hryshyne.
Oleksandrivka Direction
08:00 AM: the russian forces attacked 15 times near Oleksandrohrad, Sichneve, Zlahoda, Andriivka-Klevtsove, and toward Kalynivske.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: 14 russian attacks were recorded near Zaliznychne, Sviatopetrivka, Hirske, Huliaipilske, Staroukrainka, and Zelene.
Orikhiv Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled six attempts by the enemy to advance toward Shcherbaky, Plavni, Stepnohirsk, and Prymorske.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers conducted four unsuccessful assault operations toward the Antonivskyi Bridge and the islands of Bilohrudyi and Kruhlik.
Volyn and Polissia Directions
08:00 AM: no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groupings were detected.
Ukrainian defenders continue systematically destroying enemy forces and maintaining effective resistance across all front-line sectors.
Total Russian losses over the past day amounted to 1,140 personnel. Ukrainian forces also destroyed: 162 units of automotive equipment, 1 tank, 7 armored combat vehicles, 38 artillery systems, 1,026 operational-tactical UAVs.
Follow the Russia-Ukraine war April 2026 timeline:
April 20, 2026 — Previous update.
April 22, 2026 – Next update.
2026 January → February → March → April → May → June
Tags: Donbas conflict Drone Warfare EMPR news global security military updates russia ukraine war Ukraine frontline news
