Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of August 21, 2026.
This report is part of EMPR’s August 2026 Russia – Ukraine war timeline, tracking daily battlefield and geopolitical developments. For full coverage of this escalation phase, see the complete timeline.
The 1,640th day of Russia’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine has begun.
Operational Update as of 08:00 AM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
A total of 238 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.
Yesterday, the aggressor launched one missile strike, using missiles approaching their targets on a ballistic trajectory, as well as 44 cruise/aerial missiles of air-, land-, and sea-based launch. The enemy carried out 87 airstrikes, using 278 guided aerial bombs, deployed 10,821 kamikaze drones for attacks, and conducted 3,077 shelling attacks on Ukrainian military positions and settlements.
Enemy artillery fire hit the settlements of Neskuchne, Sopych, Korenok, Potapivka, Volfyne, Bezsalivka, Ulanove, and Tovstodubove in Sumy region; and Zoria, Buda-Vorobiivska, and Yanzhulivka. The enemy also carried out an airstrike on the area of Velyka Chernechchyna.
Over the past day, Ukrainian Defense Forces’ aviation, missile forces, and artillery struck six command posts for unmanned aerial vehicles and three areas where enemy personnel were concentrated.
Operational Update as of 10:00 PM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
Overall, 172 combat engagements have taken place since the beginning of the day.
The aggressor carried out 75 airstrikes, using 219 guided aerial bombs, deployed 6,751 kamikaze drones for attacks, and conducted 1,939 shelling attacks on Ukrainian military positions and settlements.
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled three russian assaults. At the same time, the aggressor carried out three airstrikes, dropping six aerial bombs, and conducted 53 attacks on Ukrainian positions and settlements, including two using multiple rocket launchers.
10:00 PM: four combat engagements have taken place since the beginning of the day. The enemy conducted 54 attacks on Ukrainian positions and settlements.
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian units repelled eight enemy attacks. The invaders attempted to advance toward Lyman, Izbytske, and Okhrimivka, as well as near Starytsia.
10:00 PM: the enemy launched 11 assaults on Ukrainian positions toward Izbytske, Radkivka, Kovalivka, Okhrimivka, and Mytrofanivka. Two of these assault operations are still ongoing.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian forces conducted 15 offensive operations toward Radkivka and Hlushkivka.
10:00 PM: the enemy conducted no offensive operations.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: Enemy attempts to penetrate Ukrainian defenses were repelled, russian occupiers attacked six times toward Lyman, Novoserhiivka, and Drobysheve, and near Novoselivka.
10:00 PM: Ukrainian forces repelled four attempts by the occupiers to advance toward Lyman, Shyikivka, Cherneshchyna, and Novoselivka. One of these attacks is still ongoing.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops carried out 15 assault operations toward Ozerne, Orikhuvatka, and Rai-Oleksandrivka, as well as near Kryva Luka and Riznykivka.
10:00 PM: the Defense Forces stopped eight attempts by the occupiers to advance near Kryva Luka, Pyskunivka, and Mykolaivka. One battle is ongoing.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces conducted two offensive operations near Nykyforivka and Minkivka.
10:00 PM: Russian forces carried out four offensive operations toward Yurkivka and Nykonovrivka, and near Nykyforivka.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: 26 russian attacks were recorded. The invaders conducted assault operations near Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, and Novoselivka, and toward Stepanivka, Dovha Balka, and Vilne.
10:00 PM: the Defense Forces repelled 20 russian assaults near Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Novoselivka, Novomykolaivka, Shakhove, Sofiivka, and Vilne, and toward Dovha Balka. One combat engagement is ongoing.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: The russian occupiers carried out 32 attacks on the Pokrovsk front. The occupiers attempted to advance near Dorozhnie, Novooleksandrivka, Udachne, and Kotlyne, and toward Novyi Donbas, Biliakivka, Bilytske, Hannivka, Svitlye, Shevchenko, Myrne, Vasylivka, Serhiivka, and Novopavlivka.
10:00 PM: The russian forces launched 23 attacks. They attempted to advance near Bilytske, Udachne, Muravka, and Novopidhirne, and toward Hannivka, Novyi Donbas, Svitlye, Shevchenko, Vasylivka, and Serhiivka. Two combat engagements are still ongoing.
According to preliminary estimates, 35 occupiers were killed and 14 wounded here today. Ukrainian forces destroyed one tank, six vehicles, three artillery systems, one fuel and lubricant depot, one ammunition depot, and 27 enemy personnel shelters. Two vehicles, five guns, and 98 enemy personnel shelters were damaged. A total of 416 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were destroyed or suppressed.
Oleksandryvskyi Direction
08:00 AM: the russian invaders launched three attacks toward Nove Zaporizhzhia and near Zaporizke and Rybne.
10:00 PM: the Russians launched three attacks near Nove Zaporizhzhia, Maliivka, and Yalta.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers attacked Ukrainian positions 16 times. The enemy attempted to advance toward Verkhnia Tersa, Charivne, Vozdvyzhivka, Rivne, and Dolynka, as well as near Bilohiria.
10:00 PM: the Defense Forces repelled three russian attacks toward Tsvitkove.
Orikhiv Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped three russian attempts by the enemy to advance, near Plavni and toward Mala Tokmachka and Novoandriivka.
10:00 PM: Ukrainian defenders stopped two attempts by the enemy to advance near Plavni and Mali Shcherbaky. One of them is still ongoing.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM and 10:00 PM: the enemy conducted no offensive operations.
Volyn and Polissia Direction
08:00 AM and 10:00 PM: no signs of the occupiers forming offensive groupings were detected.
Overall, Russian losses over the past day amounted to 1,390 personnel. Ukrainian forces also destroyed or disabled three tanks, five armored combat vehicles, 57 artillery systems, two multiple rocket launchers, four air-defense systems, 12 ground robotic systems, 39 missiles, 1,980 unmanned aerial vehicles, 551 vehicles, and eight units of special equipment.
