It has been the 1515 th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression.
What happened in Ukraine today:
Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 4 pm:
In total, 135 combat engagements have taken place since the beginning of this day.
Today, the enemy carried out 47 airstrikes, dropping 135 guided aerial bombs. In addition, they used 6,140 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,553 shelling attacks on populated areas and the positions of our troops.
In the Northern Slobozhanskyi and Kursk directions, two combat engagements took place. Additionally, the enemy launched one airstrike, dropping one aerial bomb, and carried out 58 shelling attacks on populated areas and our positions, one of which involved a multiple launch rocket system.
In the Southern Slobozhanskyi direction, the enemy launched three assaults on the positions of our units near the settlements of Starytsia and Vovchansk.
In the Kupiansk direction, our defenders repelled three enemy assaults toward Novoplatonivka and near Pishchane. Two engagements are still ongoing.
In the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked six times toward the settlements of Lyman, Stavky, Novoserhiivka, and near Drobysheve.
In the Sloviansk direction, the enemy carried out three attacks near Yampil and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy attacked the Defense Forces’ positions four times near Nykyforivka, Minkivka, and toward Mykolaivka.
In the Kostiantynivka direction, the Defense Forces repelled 17 enemy assaults near Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Illinivka, Sofiivka, and toward Novopavlivka and Stepanivka. One engagement is ongoing.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy conducted 23 attacks. The occupiers attempted to advance near the settlements of Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, and toward Shevchenko, Bilytske, and Novopavlivka. Two engagements are still ongoing.
According to preliminary estimates, 72 occupiers were eliminated and 20 wounded in this direction today. Seven vehicles, three pieces of special equipment, and three electronic warfare systems were destroyed; two artillery systems, four vehicles, and 14 personnel shelters were damaged. A total of 206 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were destroyed or suppressed.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, the occupiers attempted six times to improve their positions, attacking toward Kalynivske, Verbove, and Oleksandrohrad. Airstrikes were carried out on Velykomykhailivka, Kolomiitsi, Andriivka, Fedorivske, and Vovche.
In the Huliaipole direction, 11 attacks took place toward the settlements of Sviatopetrivka, Staroukrainka, Zaliznychne, Olenokostiantynivka, Huliaipilske, and near Varvarivka, Pryluky, and Tsvitkove. The enemy also conducted airstrikes near Vozdvyzhivka, Nizhenka, Zirnytsia, Verkhna Tersa, Charivne, Liubytske, Kopani, Lisne, and Trudove.
In the Orikhiv direction, airstrikes targeted the settlements of Mykilske, Yurkivka, and Zarichne.
In the Prydniprovske direction, the enemy carried out three unsuccessful attacks toward the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Recent war events in the east of Ukraine
Kharkiv oblast
Front
Over the past day, 151 combat engagements were recorded. In the Southern Slobozhanskyi direction, Russian forces attempted three times to break through the defense in the areas of Vovchanski Khutory and toward Neskuchne and Bochkovе. Two more attacks took place in the Kupiansk direction near Petropavlivka.
Shelling
The Kharkiv region came under massive strikes: at least 70 drones and one missile targeted the area. The city of Kharkiv and 25 settlements were hit. As a result of the attacks, 7 people were injured: a 59-year-old man in Kharkiv; a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Merefa; a 58-year-old woman in Kozacha Lopan; a 63-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man in Bohodukhiv; and a 20-year-old woman in Senkivka.
The enemy used various types of weapons: one missile, 18 Geran-2 UAVs, one Lancet drone, 15 Molniya UAVs, three FPV drones, and 33 drones of unidentified type. Drones struck five districts of Kharkiv — Kholodnohirskyi, Kyivskyi, Osnovianskyi, Slobidskyi, and Industrialnyi. Three enterprises and a cargo truck were damaged in the city.
Significant destruction was recorded across the region: in Bohodukhiv district — dozens of sites, including two private houses in Odnorobivka, two houses and two outbuildings in Stepne, three houses and two vehicles in Zolochiv, as well as a grain warehouse, farms, and equipment; in Kharkiv district — an apartment building, 25 private houses, enterprises, and power grids; in Kupiansk district — residential buildings in Semenivka and Velykyi Burluk; in Izium district — an enterprise; in Berestyn district — an outbuilding and a seeder.
Individual strikes caused fires: in Bohodukhiv, a drone hit a house injuring two people (aged 42 and 63) and damaging three houses; in Merefa, a missile destroyed around 30 private houses, an apartment, vehicles, and infrastructure; in Velykyi Burluk, a 78-year-old woman was injured; in Vasyshcheve, there was a strike on a hangar and railway tracks; in Slatyne, a vehicle was damaged; in Kozacha Lopan, a house was damaged. For the second time in a week, Russian forces also attacked a neuropsychiatric boarding school in Malyzhyne.
In Kharkiv, as a result of a strike on an enterprise, a tank containing 5,500 cubic meters of molasses was damaged, with approximately half leaking out. One man was injured.
In the Kupiansk area, it became known that three civilians were killed over the past day: a 58-year-old man in Kurylivka, a 65-year-old man in Novoosynove, and a 48-year-old woman (likely due to an explosive device detonation near Smorodkivka on March 16).
Bohodukhiv. Photo: Regional Military Administration.
Other
Over the past day, the transit evacuation center in Lozova received 235 people. In total, since the beginning of its operation, 28,993 individuals have been registered there.
On April 17, in Kharkiv, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the facade of Lyceum No. 74 in the Nemyshlianskyi district in honor of fallen defender Anton Kolisnyk-Kravchenko. He fought in the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Bakhmut directions and was killed on August 30, 2023, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region.
At a military hospital in Kharkiv, a 53-year-old serviceman from Ivano-Frankivsk region underwent a complex aortic prosthesis surgery after sustaining severe injuries in the Lyman direction. Doctors say that the mortality rate for such injuries reaches 70%, but in this case, the soldier was saved — the operation lasted more than six hours. He had combined trauma involving damage to the aorta and internal organs, but without massive bleeding, which gave him a chance to survive. The serviceman is currently recovering, has already been moved out of intensive care, and is completing treatment. Despite his injuries, he plans to return to service.
In the Kharkiv region, medics together with sappers saved a 31-year-old serviceman who had the warhead of an anti-tank grenade, weighing about two kilograms, lodged in his leg after stepping on a mine. The explosive device was located under the skin and muscles, so it was removed in the presence of sappers directly at a stabilization point, outside the operating room, for safety reasons.
Afterward, the soldier underwent surgeries at a hospital, where doctors stabilized his condition despite significant blood loss and other complications. According to the medical team, they managed to preserve full functionality of the leg. The serviceman said he was injured after detonating a mine while moving to a position, but managed to survive.
In the Kharkiv region, the memorial period following Easter is ongoing. However, due to the war, some people are unable to visit the graves of their loved ones in frontline communities. Traditions of honoring the deceased are being adapted to wartime conditions—more and more often, commemorations take place in churches or at home.
At the same time, new practices of remembrance are emerging: flags of military units are placed on the graves of fallen soldiers, and memorial “Alleys of Glory” are being established in cities.
Donetsk oblast
Over 60 assaults and attacks were repelled by the Defense Forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the past day. The most intense fighting took place in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions. On the Sloviansk front, Russian forces pressed from two sides, while in the Lyman direction they attacked toward Lyman and the Luhansk region.
The Center for Countering Disinformation reports that Russian forces are spreading fake claims about Ukrainian soldiers wearing civilian clothing in order to justify strikes on Kostiantynivka and the killing of civilians.
After midnight, Russian forces attacked Kramatorsk twice — two people were injured. Emergency responders assisted one of the victims and rescued three residents from a damaged building.
On April 17, Russian troops carried out 1,355 strikes along the front line and in residential areas. Six settlements came under fire: Druzhkivka, Mykolaivka, Malotaranivka, Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka, Kuroiidivka, and Maiaky.
Seven civilian objects were damaged, including two residential buildings.
In Mykolaivka, one person was killed and another injured; in Druzhkivka, one person was wounded as a result of an FPV drone strike; in Maiaky, a private house was damaged.
Over the course of the day, 21 people were evacuated from frontline Mykolaivka, some of whom required medical assistance or had lost their homes. According to the police, the city comes under daily attacks from guided aerial bombs (KABs), artillery, and drones, including those that deliberately target civilians. Evacuations are being carried out by “White Angel” crews together with the Red Cross and patrol police. Among those rescued was an injured man who had been unable to stand up for three days after shelling. Approximately 3,700 residents remain in the city.
Luhansk oblast
In the Lyman and Sloviansk directions, the enemy attempted to advance five times. In the Luhansk region, near Hrekivka, 8 mortar shellings were recorded, along with 3 strikes by tube artillery, 2 uses of grenade launchers, and the deployment of 18 UAVs.
In temporarily occupied Luhansk, partisans of the “ATESH” movement disabled an electrical substation that supplied a key railway hub used to deliver Russian military supplies. Through this hub, equipment and ammunition were transported around the clock to the Lyman and Kostiantynivka directions. As a result of the sabotage, a transformer was destroyed and a fire broke out, while restoration may take weeks. This forced Russian forces to restructure logistics and led to delays in supplying the front.
As part of support for military personnel and civilians, communities in the Luhansk region allocated assistance: Rubizhne — 760,000 UAH to defenders; Bilovodsk — 422,000 UAH for 33 residents; Lysychansk — 180,000 UAH to families of fallen soldiers. Over the first quarter, the Sievierodonetsk community paid more than 2.5 million UAH to 113 servicemen and their families. In addition, the Lysychansk Military Administration allocated 100,000 UAH to Chernobyl liquidators (a total of 660,000 UAH for 66 people), and the Hirska community is accepting applications for 6,500 UAH assistance.
Veterans’ policy in the region is being strengthened: a combat-experienced advisor has been brought into the work. Economic support is also being expanded — the Association of Relocated Businesses of Ukraine has begun operations to coordinate enterprises and interact with the state.
In occupied Luhansk region, 95% of the water supply system is in an аварий or critical condition. The worst situation is in cities captured back in 2014, where years of neglect by the occupation authorities have led to systemic infrastructure degradation.
The occupiers are militarizing children: in Luhansk, groups are being formed from children taken from families and orphanages. They are trained in military skills, shooting, and drone operation, and are being indoctrinated with the idea that war is their only future.
What is happening now in the north of Ukraine
Kyiv oblast
In Kyiv on April 18, a farewell ceremony was held for 11-year-old Maksym Veremchuk, who was killed during the massive Russian attack on April 16. That night, four people were killed in the capital and more than 60 were injured. Around one hundred people attended the farewell ceremony in the Podil district — relatives, friends, and neighbors.
As a result of the missile attack on April 16, the children’s sports club “Nyvky” — a civilian infrastructure facility — was severely damaged in Kyiv. The strike effectively destroyed a space where children and teenagers had trained for years, and the building now requires restoration. The club was an important center for athlete development, including Ukrainian champions and sports masters.
Kyiv region has been recognized as the most active region in Ukraine in developing adaptive sports. In 2025, more than 50 events were held here with the participation of over 1,500 veterans, for whom sport has become part of recovery. At the same time, mass sports are actively developing in the region — 130 events were held with more than 100,000 participants.
Combat medic Yevhenii Liashenko, after a severe injury and the loss of his leg at the front, completed rehabilitation and returned to work. He now helps people as an operator at the 102 emergency police service in Kyiv. According to him, the police provide opportunities for employment and self-realization for veterans.
In Kyiv, 12 establishments joined the “Soul of Soil” initiative, preparing dishes from products grown on demined land. The goal of the campaign is to emphasize the importance of demining as the first stage of national recovery. Part of the proceeds from these dishes will be donated to demining efforts through United24.
A Citizens’ Assembly has begun work in Kyiv, discussing support for veterans, female veterans, and their families. Over six days, participants (45 residents of the Obolon district selected by lottery by the Council of Europe team) will deliberate together with veterans, experts on veteran policy, and officials from relevant institutions. Their task is to formulate concrete, well-founded recommendations on supporting veterans and their families—practical solutions that the city authorities commit to consider and incorporate into future policies. Kyiv has over 100,000 combatants. If their families, families of fallen heroes, missing persons, and prisoners of war are included, this concerns around 350,000–400,000 Kyiv residents. Regarding veteran policy, 3.5 billion UAH has been allocated for 2026, including compensation, financial support, sports and rehabilitation programs, and housing initiatives.
Zhytomyr oblast
To Zhytomyr, the village of Huiva, and Andrushivka, 200 bodies were brought, which, according to Russia, are servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine killed by the Russian army in the Russia–Ukraine war in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. On April 16, forensic medical experts began identifying the bodies. They also work with the bodies of foreign defenders who fought for Ukraine, as well as volunteers. Specialists are doing everything possible to notify families as quickly as possible about the recovery of the remains of defenders and to return them home. On average, up to five bodies are processed per day.
In Zhytomyr, a farewell ceremony was held for 31-year-old platoon commander of a rifle company, Captain Vladyslav Skorobohatov. On April 9, Vladyslav was killed along with his comrades in the Chernihiv region.
In the village of Bykivka, Romanyiv territorial community, a new modern fire station of the volunteer fire brigade was officially opened. This event became an important step in strengthening community safety and the result of effective international cooperation. The new station will significantly improve response time to emergencies and increase residents’ safety, as it is equipped with two units of new fire and special equipment, modern tools and gear, and has been built in accordance with European standards.
Sumy oblast
Nearly 60 shelling attacks were recorded across 24 settlements in 14 communities of the region.
Damage reported:
- Hlukhiv, Esman, and Shalyhyne communities — private residential houses and farm buildings were destroyed;
- Sumy, Bereza, and Velyka Pysarivka communities — private houses, non-residential buildings, infrastructure facilities, and vehicles were damaged;
- Shostka community — a private house and a non-residential building were damaged;
- Znob-Novhorodske and Krasnopillia communities — infrastructure facilities were damaged;
- Bilopillia and Nyzhnia Syrovatka communities — vehicles were damaged;
- Verkhnia Syrovatka community — private residential houses were damaged.
Five people were evacuated.
The air-raid alert lasted 21 hours and 8 minutes.
Four residents of Sumy oblast were injured during the day as a result of enemy attacks. Two men, aged 51 and 73, sought medical assistance after a mortar strike on Seredyna-Buda community. They received the necessary treatment and will continue recovery on an outpatient basis.
Two other men, aged 51 and 34, were injured during a strike on a critical infrastructure facility in Sumy region.
Three more medical institutions in Sumy oblast received powerful generators. The resilience of the region’s medical energy infrastructure is being strengthened with the support of Olena Zelenska Foundation. In one community, a 400 kW generator was provided — a reliable backup power source enabling the facility to operate continuously and provide medical assistance even during power outages. In addition, four solar power stations were installed at a hospital.
According to Oleh Hryhorov, Head of the RMA, communities in the oblast are systematically strengthening energy security and ensuring alternative power sources.
Chernihiv oblast
At 04am on 18 April, a key energy facility in Nizhyn region was damaged as a result of a russian attack. Around 380,000 subscribers were left without electricity in Chernihiv, Pryluky, Nizhyn, and Slavutych, as well as in Chernihiv, Nizhyn, and Pryluky regions. Energy workers are working to restore power supply.
Enemy forces attacked one town and seven villages in the border areas of Chernihiv oblast using various types of weapons.
Novhorod-Siverskyi community:
Krasnyi Khutir — three explosions by FPV drones.
Semenivka community:
Karpovychi — five explosions by tube artillery; three explosions by explosive devices dropped from UAVs; one explosion by FPV drone; one explosion by Molniya-type UAV;
Semenivka — two explosions by Molniya-type UAV, and two explosions by FPV drones;
Oleksandrivka — three explosions by 120mm mortar;
Kostobobriv — five explosions by 120mm mortar;
Yanzhulivka — one explosion by FPV drone.
Snovsk community:
Khrinivka — one explosion by explosive device dropped from a UAV.
Horodnia community:
Berylivka — two explosions by FPV drones.
In Chernihiv oblast, residents paid tribute to nine defenders of Ukraine: Dmytro Ovcharyk, Vladyslav Solianyk, Stanislav Karliuk, Roman Polovian, Oleksandr Tryhubskyi, Anatolii Kotliar, Maksym Spivak, Yurii Raboshchuk, and Mykola Lysytsia.
Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine
Dnipropetrovsk oblast
Mykola Lukashuk, Head of the Regional Council reported that the occupiers attacked the region by FPV drones, targeting the regional centre, Pokrovske rural, Marhanets, and Myrove communities. An agricultural enterprise was damaged. The enemy also struck Pokrovske community by guided aerial bombs. Two apartments caught fire. A multi-storey building and a gas pipeline were damaged.
Five people were injured. In Pokrovske community, an FPV strike injured a 14-year-old boy, women aged 73 and 82, and a 65-year-old man. In Chervonohryhorivka community, a 52-year-old lorry driver was injured.
The enemy also attacked the regional centre and Marhanets community by drones and artillery. A fire broke out, and enterprises, a bus, and a lorry were damaged. A private house was damaged as a result of previous attacks. In Mykolaivka community, infrastructure was damaged following a UAV strike.
Vinnytsia oblast
In Tsekinivka village, an “Alley of Faith and Hope” for families of missing servicemen has been opened. Named trees were planted and defenders who are still awaited home were honoured.
Poltava oblast
The Regional Military Administration informed that during the night, the enemy attacked an industrial enterprise in Myrhorod region. Equipment was damaged as a result of falling UAV debris.
Cherkasy oblast
According to Ihor Taburets, Head of the Regional Military Administration, air defence forces shot down three russian UAVs in Cherkasy oblast.
Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine
Zaporizhzhia oblast
Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia RMA, reported that russian forces attacked infrastructure in the regional centre during the day. A fire broke out. There were no casualties reported.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on 17 April, Ukrainian Defence Forces repelled 14 russian attacks in Huliaipole and Orikhiv regions. Fighting took place near the settlements of Huliaipilske, Zelene, Dobropillia, Olenokostiantynivka, Zaliznychne, Staroukrainka, Sviatopetrivka, Huliaipole, Shcherbaky and Stepnohirsk.
Ivan Fedorov, Head of the RMA, on 17 April, russian forces carried out 816 strikes on 46 settlements in Zaporizhzhia oblast. 10 people were injured . People were wounded as a result of attacks on Zaporizhzhia city and Zaporizhzhia oblast.
On the night of 17 April, the russian military attacked residential areas of Zaporizhzhia by UAVs and struck an energy facility. Houses were damaged and a fire broke out. A man and a 40-year-old woman were injured.
Mykolaiv oblast
Based on the information provided by Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, russian forces attacked Ochakiv and Kutsurub communities 8 times by FPV drones. There were no injuries reported.
Odesa oblast
Referring to the State Emergency Service, at night, russian forces attacked Odesa oblast by strike UAVs. A 38-year-old truck driver was injured and received medical assistance on site. As a result of the attack, port and industrial infrastructure facilities were damaged. Fires broke out at the impact sites and were extinguished by rescuers. Administrative buildings, warehouses with agricultural products and cargo vehicles were damaged. Preliminary reports indicate one person was injured.
Kherson oblast
According to Kherson RMA, at around 5:40pm, russian forces attacked an elderly man by a drone in Dniprovskyi district of Kherson. An 86-year-old man was hospitalised with blast injuries and multiple shrapnel wounds to his arms and legs.
At approximately 5:30pm, russian forces attacked Tsentralnyi district of Kherson by a UAV. An FPV drone hit a high-rise building. One apartment was destroyed by fire, another was damaged.
At around 4:20pm, russian forces attacked the central part of Kherson by a UAV. A 70-year-old man sustained a concussion, blast injuries and a closed head injury.
At approximately 1pm, russian forces attacked Korabelnyi district of Kherson by a UAV. A 55-year-old man came under the strike and, preliminarily, sustained blast injuries.
At around 7:50am, russian forces attacked a 64-year-old man by a drone near Bilozirka while he was riding a moped. He sustained a mine-blast injury, a closed head injury, multiple leg wounds and shrapnel injuries to the head.
Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine
Volyn oblast
Novovolynsk City Council reported that in total, the Honorary Citizen of Novovolynsk Urban Territorial Community title (posthumously) has already been awarded to 192 Defenders.
Zakarpattia oblast
Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, is on a working visit to the oblast. During the meeting at the RMA, they discussed important issues: regional partnership, the economic potential of the oblast, potential areas of cooperation, and opportunities for attracting Japanese investments to the region’s economy.
Ivano-Frankivsk oblast
The RMA reported that since the beginning of 2026, Prykarpattia has accepted 55 people from Donetsk, Zaporizhzhhia and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, including 17 children.
Lviv oblast
The RMA reported that over UAH 58m was allocated from the regional budget in April to support the Defenders.
Rivne oblast
After being seriously wounded, a forester from Rivne oblast became a prizewinner in veteran competitions. Last fall, while performing a combat mission in Sumy oblast, he lost part of his leg, and the other was damaged by numerous fragments. For his heroism and courage, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally awarded our soldier the III degree For Courage Order.
Ternopil oblast
58 servicemen from Ternopil community will receive funds in the amount of UAH 15,000 for treatment and rehabilitation. In 2025, 622 servicemen from Ternopil have already received such assistance.
Khmelnytskyi oblast
80 family members of fallen heroes of Khmelnytskyi community will receive financial assistance. The total amount of assistance is over UAH 1.6m.
Chernivtsi oblast
Memorial steles were unveiled in Berehomet to 15 deceased lyceum graduates. Among those immortalized is police special forces officer Yurii Berla, who was posthumously awarded the rank of colonel.
International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)
Following the meeting of the Contact Group in the Ramstein format , Ukraine received new large-scale support packages to strengthen air defense and develop unmanned capabilities. In total, the partners allocated $4bn to strengthen air defense and over $1.5bn to develop and purchase UAVs. Special emphasis was placed on the supply of missiles to Patriot systems and support for the PURL initiative . New contributions to PURL were provided by Belgium , Norway , Bulgaria , Lithuania and Estonia .
Materials compiled by Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Helena Albahachiieva, Kristina Maknynia
Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Alla Litrovnyk, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Ilona Korolevska, Tetiana Moiseienko, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova
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