Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of May 18, 2026.
This report is part of EMPR’s May 2026 Russia-Ukraine war timeline, tracking daily battlefield and geopolitical developments. For full coverage of this escalation phase, see the complete timeline.
The 1545rd day of the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has begun.
Update as of 08:00 AM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
A total of 242 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.
Yesterday, the enemy carried out 112 airstrikes, dropping 316 guided aerial bombs. In addition, the aggressor deployed 8,065 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,716 shelling attacks on populated areas and positions of Ukrainian forces, including 104 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems.
The aggressor carried out airstrikes, in particular in the areas of Vilna Sloboda and Ulanove in Sumy Oblast.
Over the past day, aircraft, missile forces, and artillery of the Defense Forces struck seven areas where enemy personnel were concentrated and one UAV command post.
EMPR updates by Directions
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: russian aggressor carried out seven airstrikes using 14 guided aerial bombs, conducted 95 shelling attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas, including six attacks using multiple launch rocket systems. Five enemy assault actions were recorded.
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the Russians attacked the positions of Ukrainian units 13 times in the areas of Vovchanski Khutory, Prylipka, Dvorichanske, Starytsia, Veterynarne, and toward Izbytske, Zybyne, Ternova, Okhrimivka, and Kolodiazne.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: russian occupiers attacked twice toward Petropavlivka and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: the russian enemy attempted eight times to break through Ukrainian defenses, attacking toward the settlements of Lyman, Yampil, Drobysheve, and Zarichne.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: the Defense Forces successfully repelled three russian attempts to advance toward Rai-Oleksandrivka, Zakitne, and Mykolaivka.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian enemy did not conduct offensive operations.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers carried out 22 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Rusyn Yar, Toretske, Shakhove, Sofiivka, and toward Vilne and Kucheriv Yar.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped 32 assault actions by the aggressor in the areas of Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Sukhetske, Ivanivka, Nove Shakhove, and toward Myrne, Bilytske, Serhiivka, and Novopavlivka.
Oleksandrivka Direction
08:00 AM: the russian forces did not conduct offensive operations yesterday.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers carried out 24 attacks in the areas of Zlahoda, Varvarivka, Dobropillia, Olenokostiantynivka, and toward Nove Zaporizhzhia, Vozdvyzhivka, Staroukrainka, Zaliznychne, Huliaipilske, and Charivne.
IOrikhiv Direction
04:00 PM: Ukrainian defenders stopped two enemy attempts to advance near Bilohiria and Stepnohirsk.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the enemy carried out three attacks toward Antonivka.
Volyn and Polissia Directions
08:00 AM: no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups were detected.
Ukrainian defenders continue systematically destroying the enemy and putting up effective resistance along all sectors of the front.
Overall, Russian invaders lost 1,220 personnel over the past day. Ukrainian forces also neutralized one tank, five armored combat vehicles, 47 artillery systems, two multiple launch rocket systems, two air defense systems, one helicopter, five ground robotic systems, 1,603 unmanned aerial vehicles, 220 vehicles, and four units of special equipment belonging to the enemy.
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May 17, 2026 — Previous update.
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