Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of May 22, 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.
Today is the 1549rd day of the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Update as of 08:00 AM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
A total of 253 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.
Yesterday, the enemy launched one missile strike using a single missile and carried out 95 airstrikes, dropping 288 guided aerial bombs. In addition, Russian forces deployed 9,655 kamikaze drones and conducted 3,285 attacks on populated areas and the positions of Ukrainian troops, including 16 strikes using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Over the past day, the aviation, missile forces, and artillery of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck 12 areas where enemy personnel were concentrated and hit three UAV command posts.
EMPR updates by Directions
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian aggressor carried out three airstrikes using seven guided aerial bombs (KABs), conducted 80 shelling attacks on Ukrainian positions and populated areas, including two using MLRS. Two enemy assault actions were recorded.
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers attacked the positions of Ukrainian units 10 times in the areas of the settlements of Lyman, Vilcha, Synelnykove, Vovchanski Khutory, and toward Izbytske.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops attacked six times toward Kurylivka, Kivsharivka, Novoplatonivka, Novoosynove, and Hlushkivka.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers attempted seven times to break through Ukrainian defenses, attacking near the settlements of Zarichne and Serednie, and toward Lyman and Shyikivka.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: the enemy launched four assaults toward Rai-Oleksandrivka, Piskunivka, and near Riznykivka.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers attacked once near Minkivka.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: the russian forces carried out 25 attacks in the areas of Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Pleshchiivka, Vilne, Toretske, Rusyn Yar, Stepanivka, and toward Kostiantynivka and Zolotyi Kolodiaz.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled 52 assault actions by the aggressor toward the settlements of Zatyshok, Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Kamianka, Serhiivka, Udachne, Molodetske, Novopavlivka, Novopidhorodne, Bilytske, Shevchenko, and Myrne.
Oleksandrivka Direction
08:00 AM: the enemy attacked seven times near Ternove and toward the settlements of Verbove, Dobropillia, and Kalynivske.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers carried out 28 attacks toward Nove Zaporizhzhia, Dobropillia, Rybne, Zlahoda, Zaliznychne, Tsvitkove, Vozdvyzhivka, Verkhnia Tersa, Staroukrainka, Huliaipilske, and Charivne.
Orikhiv Direction
04:00 PM: Ukrainian defenders stopped one russian attempt to advance near Shcherbaky.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops conducted three attacks toward the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Volyn and Polissia Directions
08:00 AM: No signs of enemy offensive group formations were detected.
Ukrainian defenders continue the systematic destruction of enemy forces and are putting up effective resistance across all sectors of the front.
Overall, Russian losses over the past day amounted to 880 personnel. Ukrainian forces also neutralized one tank, three armored combat vehicles, 57 artillery systems, one MLRS, one air defense system, four ground robotic systems, 1,872 unmanned aerial vehicles, and 135 enemy vehicles.
