Ukrainian four-star general, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces
Between late March and early April 2026, Russia launched multiple large-scale drone and missile attacks across Ukraine, targeting cities including Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Nikopol. These strikes damaged civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and residential buildings, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens. Ukraine's air defenses intercepted most drones. Ukraine retaliated with drone strikes on Russian territory, including the Baltic port of Primorsk. Peace talks remain stalled amid ongoing conflict.
Ukraine has completed over 22,000 unmanned missions in three months, using ground robots and drones to capture enemy positions without infantry or casualties. President Zelensky has announced that Russian troops surrendered to robotic forces in a battlefield first. Ukraine plans to contract 25,000 new ground robots in 2026 to perform frontline logistics and combat roles, boosting its defense capabilities.
Ukrainian forces have regained territory in recent weeks, with reports of advances in eastern Ukraine. Russia continues to control significant parts of Donbas and other regions, while fighting remains intense along the front line. Both sides are actively shifting their military operations.
Estonia's Foreign Minister states Russia is not militarily preparing to attack NATO or Baltic states. Ukrainian President Zelensky warns Russia may mobilize again or involve Belarus in its war. Ukraine reports increased military activity near Belarus, which hosts Russian forces and weapons. The situation remains tense but not imminent.
Oil shipments from Russia have surged in 2026, making Moscow Syria’s dominant crude supplier after Assad’s fall. The move underscores Damascus’s economic constraints and Moscow’s growing influence in a country with two Russian bases, while Western sanctions continue to complicate global supply chains.
Ukraine has extended its long-range drone and missile operations, striking a Tuapse refinery and other targets behind Russian lines. Kyiv says range has more than doubled since 2022, enabling hits on oil installations and plants supporting Moscow’s war effort. Drones are prompting evacuations near Black Sea sites as Russia reports drone interceptions and civilian casualties on both sides.
Russian forces are pushing toward Kostiantynivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region while Ukrainian forces defend a fortress belt around the city. Drones and artillery strikes have damaged civilian targets, including in Odesa, as both sides report ongoing combat and contested control around the outskirts.
Ukraine has gained about 116 square kilometres of front-line territory in several sectors, while Russian advances have slowed to a crawl in early 2026. The Institute for the Study of War notes Kyiv’s counter-offensives and Moscow’s use of infiltration tactics to project gains that are not fully controlled.
Ukraine has warned that Russia has drawn up five offensive scenarios toward Chernihiv and Kyiv. Kyiv is increasing northern forces and pressing Belarus diplomatically as it prepares for potential cross-border activity.
Ukraine is deploying mid-range drone strikes to hit Russian warehouses, transport hubs and command posts up to 120–150 kilometers from the front, a shift that is changing logistics and front-line dynamics. Kyiv says these capabilities are expanding rapidly, with political leaders stressing intensified use this year.
GCHQ chief Anne Keast-Butler has said that Russia’s casualties in Ukraine have reached what Western intelligence calls a near half‑million figure, with Moscow’s losses overwhelming Kyiv’s and the war continuing into its fourth year. She warns Russia is targeting Europe’s critical infrastructure and that cyber and hybrid threats are intensifying.
Ukrainian forces have retaken territory along the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts, with May gains marking a shift in momentum. Kyiv cites drone strikes and rear-area pressure as key factors, while Russia faces intensified counterattacks and logistical disruptions. International diplomacy continues, with calls for ceasefire talks and humanitarian safeguards.