Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of May 8, 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 1,535th 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, 208 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.
Yesterday, the enemy carried out one missile strike using a single missile, as well as 99 airstrikes, dropping 292 guided aerial bombs. In addition, they deployed 9,113 kamikaze drones and conducted 3,126 shelling attacks on populated areas and our troops’ positions, including 131 using multiple launch rocket systems.
The aggressor launched airstrikes, in particular, in the areas of the settlements of Velyka Pysarivka in the Sumy region, and Liubytske, Verkhnia Tersa, Vozdvyzhivska, and Dolynka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Over the past day, aircraft, missile forces, and artillery of the Defense Forces struck six command posts, four areas of enemy personnel concentration, and one enemy artillery system.
EMPR updates by Directions
Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction
08:00 AM: ten combat engagements took place over the past day. The russian enemy carried out 108 shelling attacks on our troops’ positions and populated areas, including 23 using multiple launch rocket systems.
Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction
08:00 AM: russian occupiers launched six assaults on the positions of our units in the areas of Prylipka, Starytsia, Lyman, and toward the settlement of Izbytske.
Kupiansk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped four enemy attacks in the areas of Radkivka and Novoplatonivka.
Lyman Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian forces repelled 13 russian attempts to advance in the areas of Kovalivka, Drobysheve, Stavky, Dibrova, and Lyman.
Sloviansk Direction
08:00 AM: the Defense Forces successfully repelled one russian attempt to advance near Rai-Oleksandrivka.
Kramatorsk Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers did not conduct offensive operations over the past day.
Kostyantinivka Direction
08:00 AM: Russians carried out nine attacks near Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Rusyn Yar, Pleshchiivka, and Ivanopillia.
Pokrovsk Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped 33 russian assault actions in the areas of Bilytske, Nykyforivka, Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Novopavlivka, Toretske, Nove Shakhove, Udachne, Molodetske, Hryshyne, and Kotlyne, as well as toward the settlements of Hannivka, Novopavlivka, and Shevchenko.
Oleksandrivka Direction
08:00 AM: Russian troops attacked three times in the areas of Kalynivske and Oleksandrohrad.
Huliaipole Direction
08:00 AM: 23 russian attacks took place in the areas of Rybne, Dobropillia, Sviatopetrivka, Pryluky, Zaliznychne, Staroukrainka, Verkhnia Tersa, Zaporizhzhia, Charivne, and Olenokostiantynivka.
Orikhiv Direction
08:00 AM: the russian occupiers attempted six times to advance in the areas of Shcherbaky and Stepnohirsk.
Prydniprovskyi Direction
08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders successfully stopped three attacks toward the Antonivskyi Bridge and Bilogrudyi Island.
Volyn and Polissia Directions
08:00 AM: no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groupings were detected.
Overall, over the past day, Russian invaders suffered losses of 1,130 personnel. Ukrainian forces also destroyed one tank, 17 armored combat vehicles, 91 artillery systems, two multiple launch rocket systems, five air defense systems, eight ground robotic systems, 1,817 unmanned aerial vehicles, 334 units of automotive equipment, and one unit of special equipment.
Follow the Russia-Ukraine war May 2026 timeline:
May 7, 2026 — Previous update.
May 9, 2026 – Next update.
2026 January → February → March → April → May → June
Tags: breaking news Geopolitics Russia-Ukraine War Ukraine Ukraine news War Updates world news
