Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of May 19, 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 1546rd day of the large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Update as of 08:00 AM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
Overall, 236 combat engagements were recorded along the front line over the past 24 hours.
Yesterday, Russian forces carried out one missile strike using 22 missiles and launched 72 airstrikes, dropping 225 guided aerial bombs. In addition, the enemy deployed 9,794 kamikaze drones and conducted 3,201 attacks on Ukrainian settlements and military positions, including 48 strikes using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Over the past day, Ukraine’s Air Force, missile forces, and artillery struck four areas where enemy personnel were concentrated, as well as one command post, three UAV command centers, and three additional important enemy targets.
Update as of 04:00 PM on Russian invasion of Ukraine
Since the beginning of the day, Russian forces have launched 63 attacks against positions held by Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
Artillery shelling of border areas continues. Today, the settlements of Korenok, Shalyhyne, Ryzhivka, and Bezsalivka in the Sumy region came under attack, while Semenivka in the Chernihiv region was also shelled. Russian forces additionally carried out airstrikes near the settlements of Chernatske and Zernove in the Sumy region.
EMPR updates by Directions
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian aggressor launched three airstrikes using six guided aerial bombs (KABs), carried out 88 shelling attacks against Ukrainian positions and populated areas, including two attacks using MLRS.
04:00 PM: two combat engagements took place. The Russians conducted 56 shelling attacks against populated areas and Ukrainian military positions, including one strike using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions seven times near the settlements of Starytsia, Vilcha, Prylipka, Veterynarne, and toward Hrafske and Karaichne.
04:00 PM: Russian troops launched six assaults against Ukrainian positions near the settlements of Hraniv, Lyman, Radkivka, Vilcha, and Starytsia.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers attacked five times toward Kurylivka, Petropavlivka, Kivsharivka, and Novoplatonivka.
04:00 PM: the enemy did not conduct active operations today.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: Russian troops attempted 14 assaults aimed at breaking through Ukrainian defenses near Stavky, Zarichne, Drobysheve, Novoserhiivka, and toward Ozerne and Dibrova.
04:00 PM: Ukrainian defenders repelled six enemy attempts to advance near Drobysheve, Ozerne, and Dibrova.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian troops launched three assaults toward Rai-Oleksandrivka and Kalenyky.
04:00 PM: Russian forces twice attempted to advance near the settlements of Riznykivka and Kryva Luka. One combat engagement is still ongoing.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: no enemy attacks were recorded.
04:00 PM: the enemy did not conduct active operations today.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces carried out 18 attacks near Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Pleshchiivka, Vilne, Toretske, Berestok, Stepanivka, and toward Kostiantynivka and Kucheriv Yar.
04:00 PM: Russian troops carried out six attacks near Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Illinivka, and Dovha Balka.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled 40 assault attempts near the settlements of Dorozhne, Shevchenko, Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novoserhiivka, Molodetske, Filiia, Bilytske, Nykanorivka, and Pokrovsk.
04:00 PM: Russian occupiers attempted 26 times since the beginning of the day to push Ukrainian troops from their positions near Dorozhne, Rodynske, Oleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and toward the settlements of Vilne and Hruzke. One battle remains ongoing.
Oleksandrivka Direction
08:00 AM: the enemy attacked once toward Voronne.
04:00 PM: the russian occupiers launched one assault near the settlement of Oleksandrohrad.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: Russian troops launched 22 attacks toward Zlahoda, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Charivne, Tsvitkove, Rivne, Zaliznychne, Rybne, Staroukrainka, and Hirke.
04:00 PM: Ukraine’s Defense Forces successfully repelled ten russian attacks near Rivnopillia, Radisne, Rybne, Dobropillia, Staroukrainka, Tsvitkove, and Charivne. One combat engagement is still underway.
Orikhiv Direction
04:00 PM: Ukrainian defenders stopped one russian attempt to advance near Shcherbaky.
04:00 PM: the enemy did not conduct active operations today.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM: Russian forces conducted four attacks toward Antonivka and Bilohrudyi Island.
04:00 PM: Ukrainian forces stopped one russian attempt to advance toward Bilohrudyi Island.
Volyn and Polissia Directions
08:00 AM and 04:00 PM: No signs of russian offensive group formations were detected.
Ukrainian defenders continue systematically destroying enemy forces and maintaining effective resistance across all sectors of the front.
Overall, Russian losses over the past 24 hours amounted to 1,140 personnel. Ukrainian forces also neutralized:
- 1 tank,
- 1 armored combat vehicle,
- 78 artillery systems,
- 11 ground robotic systems,
- 4 missiles,
- 2,142 unmanned aerial vehicles,
- 262 vehicles,
- and 2 units of special equipment.
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May 18, 2026 — Previous update.
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