Russia – Ukraine War Updates: Key Developments as of May 4, 2026

Russia – Ukraine war updates latest from the General Staff of Ukraine as of May 4, 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 1,531th day of the large-scale armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine.

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

In total, 148 combat engagements were recorded over the past day.

Yesterday, the enemy carried out one missile strike using two missiles, as well as 86 airstrikes, dropping 312 guided aerial bombs. In addition, they deployed 10,394 kamikaze drones and conducted 3,384 shelling attacks on populated areas and our troops’ positions, including 37 using multiple launch rocket systems.

The aggressor launched airstrikes, in particular, in the areas of the settlements of Vilna Sloboda in the Sumy region; Prosyana in the Dnipropetrovsk region; and Vozdvyzhivka, Verkhnya Tersa, Novomykolaivka, Malyn, Huliaipilske, Lisne, Kopani, Omelnyk, Yehorivka, Rizdvianka, Barvinivka, Rivne, Orikhiv, Omelnyk, Lystivka, Tavriiske, Hryhorivka, Odarivka, Zarichne, Komyshuvakha, Tsvitkove, Liubytske, Shyroke, Novoselivka, and Novorozivka in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Over the past day, aircraft, missile forces, and artillery of the Defense Forces struck nine areas of enemy personnel concentration and two artillery guns.

EMPR updates by Directions

Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk Direction

08:00 AM: one combat engagement took place over the past day. The enemy carried out 73 shelling attacks on populated areas and our troops’ positions, three of which involved multiple launch rocket systems, and conducted three airstrikes using seven guided bombs.

Southern-Slobozhanskyi Direction

08:00 AM: the russian enemy launched three assaults toward Starytsia, Lyman, and Mytrofanivka.

Kupiansk Direction

08:00 AM: the russian aggressor attacked twice toward Kurylivka and Kivsharivka.

Lyman Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders repelled five attempts by the invaders to advance toward Lyman, Novyi Myr, Drobysheve, and Ozerne.

Sloviansk Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped three russian attempts to advance toward Rai-Oleksandrivka, Kalenyky, and Riznykivka.

Kramatorsk Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian forces repelled one russian attack in the area of Orikhovo-Vasylivka.

Kostyantinivka Direction

08:00 AM: the russian occupiers carried out 23 attacks in the areas of Kostiantynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Stepanivka, Rusyn Yar, and Sofiivka.

Pokrovsk Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped 26 russian assault actions by the aggressor toward the settlements of Bilytske, Dorozhne, Rodynske, Serhiivka, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Muravka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and Novopavlivka.

Oleksandrivka Direction

08:00 AM: the russian troops attacked six times in the areas of Vorone, Oleksandrohrad, Zlahoda, Yehorivka, Krasnohirskе, and Berezove.

Huliaipole Direction

08:00 AM: 23 russian attacks took place toward Zaliznychne, Olenokostiantynivka, Pryluky, Tsvitkove, Sviatopetrivka, Verkhnya Tersa, Hirske, Charivne, and Huliaipilske.

Orikhiv Direction

08:00 AM: Ukrainian defenders stopped one russian attempt to advance in the area of Shcherbaky.

Prydniprovskyi Direction

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

Volyn and Polissia Directions

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

Overall, over the past day, the losses of Russian invaders amounted to 1,120 personnel. Ukrainian forces also neutralized six tanks, four armored combat vehicles, 113 artillery systems, two multiple launch rocket systems, 11 ground robotic systems, 2,249 unmanned aerial vehicles, five missiles, 268 units of automotive equipment, and 17 units of special equipment.

Follow the Russia-Ukraine war May 2026 timeline:

May 3, 2026 — Previous update.

May 5, 2026 – Next update.

2026 January → February → March → April → May

EMPR