Map of combat operations in Ukraine as of May 18, 2026, from the General Staff
As of May 18, 2026, the heaviest fighting on the front lines is taking place in the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole sectors. It is there that the occupying forces are concentrating their main efforts in an attempt to break through the Ukrainian forces’ defenses.
This is stated in a report from the General Staff.
Over the past 24 hours, 242 combat engagements were recorded. Ukrainian defenders are steadfastly holding back the occupiers’ advance, inflicting significant losses on the enemy. The military continues to resolutely repel the enemy’s attempts to advance deeper into our territory, delivering effective firepower against them.
Yesterday, the enemy carried out 112 airstrikes, dropping 316 guided bombs. Additionally, they deployed 8,065 kamikaze drones and fired 2,716 rounds at populated areas and our troops’ positions, including 104 from multiple launch rocket systems. The aggressor carried out airstrikes, particularly in the areas of settlements in the Sumy region—Vilna Sloboda and Ulanove. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Over the past day, the Air Force, Rocket Forces, and Artillery of the Defense Forces struck seven areas where enemy personnel were concentrated and one UAV command post.
In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions over the past day, the aggressor carried out 7 airstrikes using 14 guided bombs, fired on the positions of our troops and populated areas 95 times, including six times using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Five enemy assaults were recorded.
In the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy attacked the positions of our units 13 times in the areas of the settlements of Vovchanski Khutory, Prylipka, Dvorichanske, Starytsia, Veterinarne, and in the direction of Izbytske, Zybine, Ternova, Okhrimivka, and Kolodyazne.
In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy attacked twice, toward Petropavlivka and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi. In the Lyman direction, the enemy attempted to breach our defenses eight times, attacking toward the settlements of Lyman, Yampil, Drobysheve, and Zarichne.
In the Sloviansk direction, the Defense Forces successfully repelled three attempts by the invaders to advance toward Rai-Oleksandrivka, Zakitne, and Mykolaivka. In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy did not conduct any offensive operations. In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 22 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Ivanopil, Illinivka, Rusyno Yar, Toretske, Shakove, Sofiivka, and in the direction of Vilne and Kuchery Yar.
In the Pokrovsk direction, our defenders repelled 32 assaults by the aggressor in the areas of the settlements of Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Sukhetske, Ivanivka, and Novoshakhove, as well as toward Myrne, Bilytske, Serhiivka, and Novopavlivka. In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy did not conduct any offensive operations over the past day.
In the Huliaipole sector, the occupiers carried out 24 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Zlagoda, Varvarivka, Dobropillia, Olenokostyantynivka, and in the direction of Novozaporizhzhia, Vozdvyzhivka, Staroukrainka, Zaliznychne, Huliaipole, and Charivne.
In the Orikhiv sector, our defenders repelled two enemy attempts to advance in the areas of Bilohirya and Stepnogorsk. In the Dnipro sector, the enemy carried out three attacks toward Antonivka. In the Volyn and Polissya sectors, no signs of enemy offensive groupings were detected.
Ukrainian defenders continue to systematically destroy the enemy and are putting up effective resistance across all sectors of the front.
In total, over the past 24 hours, Russian invaders suffered 1,220 casualties. One tank, five armored combat vehicles, 47 artillery systems, two multiple launch rocket systems, two air defense systems, one helicopter, five ground-based robotic systems, 1,603 unmanned aerial vehicles, 220 enemy vehicles, and four units of special equipment were also neutralized.
On the night of May 17, a number of Russian military-industrial complex and energy facilities in Moscow and the Moscow region were struck. Strikes were carried out on an oil depot in Durikino, an oil refinery in Kapotnya, the Angstrom microelectronics plant, and the Raduga Design Bureau, which develops cruise missiles.
On the morning of May 16, Moscow also came under attack by drones, causing airports in the Russian capital to temporarily suspend operations.
The “ATESH” partisan movement claimed responsibility for a sabotage operation in the Moscow region, which disrupted the functioning of elements of the Russian air defense system on the outskirts of the capital.
