Russia – Ukraine War Updates: Key Developments as of March 26, 2026

Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of March 26, 2026.

This report is part of EMPR’s March 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 1492st day of the Russian Federation’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to repel Russian attempts to improve their positions and advance deeper into Ukrainian territory, inflicting heavy losses in manpower and equipment across multiple sectors of the front.

Update as of 08:00 AM on Russian invasion of Ukraine

A total of 158 combat engagements were recorded over the past 24 hours.

Yesterday, Russian forces carried out 70 airstrikes, dropping 231 guided aerial bombs. In addition, they launched 9,414 kamikaze drones and conducted 4,184 shelling attacks on populated areas and Ukrainian military positions, including 131 using multiple launch rocket systems.

Airstrikes targeted, among other areas, settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk region — Velykomykhailivka, Havrylivka, Pidhavrylivka, Kolomyitsi, Novoselivka, and Khrystoforivka. In the Zaporizhzhia region, strikes hit Vozdvyzhivka, Huliaipilske, Yehorivka, Shyroke, Kopani, Dolynka, Verkhna Tersa, Kamianka, Voskresenka, Barvinivka, Novosoloshyne, Liubymivka, Veselianka, and Novooleksandrivka.

Over the past day, Ukrainian aviation, missile forces, and artillery struck one UAV command post and eight areas of concentration of enemy personnel and equipment.

EMPR updates by Directions

Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction

08:00 AM: Russian forces carried out 89 attacks, including four using MLRS, and conducted one airstrike with four guided bombs. Three combat engagements were recorded in this sector.

Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction

08:00 AM: the russian forces attempted three times to breach Ukrainian defenses toward Starytsia, Zybyne, and Okhrimivka.

Kupiansk Direction

08:00 AM: Russian forces launched four attacks toward Nova Kruhliakivka, Kurylivka, and Platonivka.

Lyman Direction

08:00 AM: the russian enemy attacked six times, attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses toward Drobysheve, Lyman, Dibrova, and near Kopanky.

Sloviansk Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled eight attempts by Russian forces to advance near Zakytne, Riznykivka, Platonivka, and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.

Kramatorsk Direction

08:00 AM: the russian forces made one attempt to improve its position near Chasiv Yar.

Kostyantinivka Direction

08:00 AM: Russian forces carried out 16 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Novopavlivka, and toward Illinivka and Toretsk.

Pokrovsk Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian forces repelled 44 assault operations near Bilytske, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novomykolaivka, Novopidhorodne, Molodetske, Horikhove, Svitłe, Novoserhiivka, and toward Novyi Donbas, Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, and Shevchenko.

Oleksandrivka Direction

08:00 AM: the enemy attacked three times near Ternove, Oleksandrohrad, and Krasnohirivske.

Huliaipole Direction

08:00 AM: 17 attacks were recorded near Huliaipole, Varvarivka, Olenokostiantynivka, and toward Zaliznychne and Myrne.

Orikhiv Direction

08:00 AM: Russian forces attacked once near Prymorske.

Prydniprovskyi Direction

08:00 AM: the russian enemy carried out two assault operations toward the Antonivskyi Bridge and Bilohrudyi Island.

Volyn and Polissia Directions

08:00 AM: no signs of enemy offensive group formation were detected.

Ukrainian defenders continue the systematic destruction of Russian forces, maintaining effective resistance across all sectors of the front.

Over the past 24 hours, Russian losses amounted to 1,210 personnel. Ukrainian forces also destroyed one tank, four armored combat vehicles, 49 artillery systems, two multiple launch rocket systems, one air defense system, 2,038 unmanned aerial vehicles, 201 vehicles, and two units of special equipment.

Follow the Russia-Ukraine war March 2026 timeline:

March 25, 2026 — Previous update.

March 27, 2026 – Next update.

2026 January → February → March → April → May

EMPR