Russia – Ukraine War Updates: Key Developments as of May 5, 2026

Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of May 5, 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 1,532nd 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

In total, 149 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.

Yesterday, the enemy carried out one missile strike using a single missile, as well as 75 airstrikes, dropping 273 guided aerial bombs. In addition, they deployed 9,649 kamikaze drones and conducted 3,572 shelling attacks on populated areas and our troops’ positions, including 33 using multiple launch rocket systems.

The aggressor launched airstrikes, in particular, in the areas of the settlements of Velyka Pysarivka and Vilna Sloboda in the Sumy region; and Tsvitkove, Liubytske, Verkhnya Tersa, and Vozdvyzhivska in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Over the past day, aircraft, missile forces, and artillery of the Defense Forces struck three command posts, seven areas of enemy personnel concentration, one air defense system, and four enemy artillery systems.

EMPR updates by Directions

Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction

08:00 AM: five combat engagements took place over the past day. The russian occupiers carried out 80 shelling attacks on our troops’ positions and populated areas, including five using multiple launch rocket systems.

Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction

08:00 AM: the russian troops launched four assaults on our positions in the areas of Prylipka, Starytsia, and Ambarne.

Kupiansk Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped one russian attack in the area of Radkivka.

Lyman Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled six attempts by the invaders to advance in the areas of Drobysheve, Lyman, Yampil, and Ozerne.

Sloviansk Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped three russian attempts to advance in the areas of Kryva Luka, Zakitne, and Riznykivka.

Kramatorsk Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled three enemy attacks in the areas of Malynivka, Nykyforivka, and Virolubivka.

Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: Russians carried out 16 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Toretske, Illinivka, Pleshchiivka, and Stepanivka.

Pokrovsk Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped 24 assault actions by the aggressor in the areas of Bilytske, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Rodynske, Udachne, Novopavlivka, Novooleksandrivka, Molodetske, Novomykolaivka, and Muravka.

Oleksandrivka Direction

08:00 AM: Russian troops attacked seven times in the areas of Sichneve, Yehorivka, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Zlahoda, and Verbove.

Huliaipole Direction

08:00 AM: 29 russian attacks took place in the areas of Varvarivka, Dobropillia, Zaliznychne, Hirske, Staroukrainka, Olenokostiantynivka, Yablukove, Sviatopetrivka, Charivne, Verkhnya Tersa, and Vozdvyzhivska.

Orikhiv Direction

08:00 AM: Russian occupiers attempted to advance once in the area of Shcherbaky.

Prydniprovskyi Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian units repelled three russian attacks toward Antonivka.

Volyn and Polissia Directions

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

Overall, over the past day, the losses of Russian invaders amounted to 970 personnel. Ukrainian forces also destroyed three tanks, three armored combat vehicles, 80 artillery systems, three multiple launch rocket systems, four air defense systems, three ground robotic systems, 1,968 unmanned aerial vehicles, 206 units of automotive equipment, and two units of special equipment.

Follow the Russia-Ukraine war May 2026 timeline:

May 4, 2026 — Previous update.

May 6, 2026 – Next update.

2026 January → February → March → April → May

EMPR