Russia’s war on Ukraine. 18.02.26
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attempted to advance northwest and south of Popivka, south of Hrabovske, attacked near Oleksiivka, Kindrativka, in the direction of Mala Korchakivka, near Yunakivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Pokrovka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Vovchansk, Vovchansk Khutory, Vilcha, Hrafske, in the direction of Okhrymivka, Shevyakivka, Chuhunivka.
On the Kupyansk Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces secured positions in northern Kupyansk, counterattacked near Krymka.
Russian forces advanced south of Novoyehorivka, attempted to advance in the southeastern part of Oleksandrivka, attacked near Kupyansk, Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, in the direction of Novoosynove, near Nova Kruhlyakivka, Bohuslavka.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Russian forces attempted to advance northeast of Staryi Karavan, northwest and southeast of Ozerne, west of Dibrova, north of Riznykivka, attacked near and inside Lyman, near Drobysheve, Sosnove, Svyatohirsk, Yarova, Zarichne, in the direction of Stavky, near Yampil, in the direction of Brusivka, near Dronivka, Zakitne, Platonivka, Kryva Luka, in the direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka, near Nykyforivka, Bondarne and Vasyukivka.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, Russian forces advanced on the southeastern outskirts of Kostyantynivka, on the northern outskirts of Pleshchiivka, infiltrated in the southwest of Chasiv Yar, attempted to advance in the southwestern part of Kostyantynivka, attacked near and inside Kostyantynivka, near Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Minkivka, Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Oleksandro-Kalynove, Illinivka, Berestok, Stepanivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, Novopavlivka, Toretske.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, Russian forces attacked near Novyi Donbas, Vilne, Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, in the direction of Shevchenkove, Novooleksandrivka, Rodynske, Bilytske, near Krasnyi Lyman, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novopidhorodnie, infiltrated into the area northwest of Rodynske, where they consolidate.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces attacked Novopavlivka, in the direction of Filiya, near Ivanivka, Ternove, in the direction of Oleksiivka, Verbove.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Bratske, Hai, from Velykomykhailivka in the direction of the line Stepove – Berezove – Ternove, entered Orestopil and conduct clearing operations.
Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted a series of clearing operations near Verbove, along the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, liberated up to 200 km2 of territory.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Russian forces fought for Tsvitkove, Zaliznychne, attempted to advance south of Kosivtseve, east of Krynychne, in the center of Staroukrainka, attacked near Huliaypole, Varvarivka, Dobropillya, Pryluky, Svyatopetrivka, Zelene, Ternuvate, Krynychne, Verkhnya Tersa, Pryvillya, Zlahoda, Solodke, Myrne, Zalizne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Olenokostyantynivka, Vozdvyzhivka, Rizdvyanka, Andriivka, Pryluky, Ternuvate, Huliaypole, Zalizne and Staroukrainka.
On the Orikhiv Direction, Russian forces attacked near Myrne, Mala Tokmachka, Bilohirya, Novodanylivka, Stepnohirsk, Novoandriivka, Prymorske, Lukyanivske, Novoboykivske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Richne, Stepnohirsk, Prymorske.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the defense enterprise “VNIIR-Progress” in Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic, the “Metafrax Chemicals” plant in Perm Krai, the “Frunzenskaya” electrical substation, the “Energo” thermal power plant in Belgorod, an MTS warehouse in Donetsk, enemy concentration areas in Velyka Novosilka, near Lyubymivka, Rozivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the communications node of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army near Zelenopillya, an ammunition depot northwest of Terpinnia, a rear command post in the village of Yalta, Donetsk Oblast, a technical position of a missile brigade equipped with the Iskander OTRK near Pasichne, destroyed a Ka-27 helicopter near the village of Kamyshly, Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
General conclusion:
The enemy’s capture of Pokrovka on the Northern Slobozhansky direction does not indicate the possibility of developing an offensive in the Krasnopillya area in the near future.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces continue localized attempts to infiltrate, accumulate forces in basements, use UAVs to attack Ukrainian logistics, prevent unit maneuver, and exhaust Ukrainian Defense Forces units.
Russian forces attempt to regain control over the Dobropillya–Solodke area and conduct reconnaissance of Ukrainian Defense Forces positions in the areas of Vyshneve, Yehorivka, Pryvillya, and Zlahoda.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 160 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, the enemy assaulted Ukrainian positions 4 times in the areas of Vovchansk Khutory, Prylipka and toward Okhrymivka.
On the Kupyansk Direction, 3 enemy attacks occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions toward Kurylivka and Novoosynove.
On the Sloviansk Direction, 18 enemy attempts to advance were repelled in the area of Zarichne, toward Druzhelyubivka, Stavky, in the areas of Yampil, Zakitne, Riznykivka, Platonivka, Dronivka, Sviato-Pokrovske.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy conducted 17 attacks in the areas of Stupochky, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka and toward Kostyantynivka, Illinivka, Novopavlivka, Ivanopillya, toward Novodmytrivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, our defenders stopped 21 assault and offensive actions of the aggressor in the areas of Rodynske, Kotlyne, Filiya and toward Novooleksandrivka, Novopidhorodnie.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions six times in the areas of Ternove, Rybne and toward Danylivka, Tsehelne.
On the Huliaypole Direction, the enemy attempted 31 times to advance on Ukrainian defenders’ positions in the areas of Dobropillya, Huliaypole, Solodke, Pryluky, Zelene and toward Zaliznychne, Varvarivka, Staroukrainka.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive actions.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the enemy carried out two unsuccessful attacks over the past day
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 25th “Anvar” BARS Detachment strikes in Tymofiivka; the 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps, the 34th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 49th Combined Arms Army, and the 106th Airborne Division operate in Sumy Oblast.
The 16th Separate SOF Brigade strikes in Mykolaivka.
The 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army strikes near Krasnopillya.
The 57th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army conducts strikes near Rodynske.
The 69th Separate Reconnaissance Regiment of the 35th Combined Arms Army conducts strikes north and northwest of Ternove.
Aviation of the 11th Air and Air Defense Forces Army conducts strikes near Hirke.
The 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade operates in Zapasne; the 4th Military Base of the 58th Combined Arms Army strikes west of Preobrazhenka; the 7th Air Assault Division operates on the Orikhiv direction, including near Prymorske.
Possible operation situation developments:
The enemy has begun preparations for this year’s summer campaign. Two offensive operations should be expected starting from the end of April 2026 — the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk and the Orikhiv-Zaporizhzhia operations. The enemy’s military command will focus on forming and deploying strategic reserves, accumulating operational and strategic materiel stocks to the relevant directions, deploying strike groupings in assembly areas for the offensive, carrying out a set of measures to comprehensively cover operational deployment (air defense, EW, counterintelligence measures, etc.), and conducting covert regrouping of forces. The disruption of the enemy’s summer offensive will lead to a prolonged loss of offensive capabilities, depletion of resources, and will provide a real chance to end the war.
The enemy “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping will continue to operate simultaneously along the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, and the Velykyi Burluk Direction and will attempt to seize as large an area as possible in Sumy Oblast and Kharkiv Oblast with the aim of subsequent political bargaining for their exchange for territories in Donetsk Oblast that the enemy will be unable to seize.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, in the Vovchansk area, the enemy “Belgorod–Kharkov” Tactical Group will continue attempts to break through along the eastern bank of the Siverskyi Donets in the southern direction and advance as far as possible in the Vovchansk–Bilyi Kolodyaz direction. Attempting to advance in the general Vovchansk–Staryi Saltiv direction, the Tactical Group command will try to secure the right flank of its main forces, which will advance toward Bilyi Kolodyaz.
In the Kupyansk area, Russian forces will intensify operations along the Pishchane–Kurylivka line and further toward Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, as well as along the Kolisnykivka–Hlushkivka line and further toward Kivsharivka and Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi. The headquarters of the 1st Tank Army and the 6th Combined Arms Army will attempt to achieve the required tactical troop density through regrouping within their respective armies. To implement this concept, the enemy will have to commit part of its strategic reserves in this Direction (several brigades or 1–2 divisions from among the recently formed units), or it will be forced to halt offensive operations in the Velykyi Burluk, Lyman, and Vovchansk Directions. The enemy’s “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping will concentrate its efforts on seizing the eastern part of Kupyansk, attacking from the north, will attempt to push the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 16th Army Corps south of the Kucherivka–Petropavlivka line, advancing toward Petropavlivka along the road from Vilshana and attacking the northeastern part of the city from the direction of Lyman Pershyi. To restore the situation in the Kupyansk area, the enemy will intensify actions within the offensive zone of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army, which conducts a frontal advance on Kupyansk from the east. Attempts by the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army to eliminate the bridgehead of the 16th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces on the Oskil east of Kupyansk will continue. The 6th Combined Arms Army of the enemy “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping will advance simultaneously on three directions: toward Staryi Saltiv, Velykyi Burluk, and in the Kupyansk area. The army’s troops will attempt to advance from the Dvorichanske bridgehead in the Krasne Pershe–Novovasylivka and Dvorichna–Ridkodub directions, attack in the Milove–Ambarne direction with the aim of capturing the latter and will try to outflank from the north and south the defensive strongpoint of the 16th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Kolodyazne area.
On the Sloviansk Direction, the enemy will continue intensive assault operations on the sector from the Siverskyi Donets to Sviato-Pokrovske, attempting to break through to the Kryva Luka – Kalenyky line and seize Riznykivka. Continued attacks should be expected on both sides of the Sloviansk – Bakhmut road. Enemy assault actions are likely aimed at seizing Nikiforivka, breaking through to Fedorivka Druha, and attempting to reach the Malynivka – Vasyutynske line. The overall offensive direction of the 3rd Combined Arms Army will not change in the near term.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the command of Russian forces plans to capture the entire Druzhkivka–Kostyantynivka agglomeration in stages, first enveloping the flanks of Kostyantynivka while simultaneously breaking through to the near approaches to Druzhkivka. After this it will seize Kostyantynivka by assault and push Ukrainian Defense Forces out of the Druzhkivka area under the threat of encirclement. Enemy forces will advance toward the Malotaranivka–Semenivka–Bilokuzmynivka–Komyshuvakha area north of Druzhkivka. The objective of the operation may be to reach the near approaches to Kramatorsk from the south and southeast, thereby creating the preconditions for an offensive operation against the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration. The “Dzerzhynsk” Tactical Group will break through via Illinivka and Berestok into the southwestern central part of Kostyantynivka, advancing along the western bank of the Kryvyi Torets River. The “Bakhmut” Tactical Group, attacking through the southeastern part of Kostyantynivka, will break through to the Kostyantynivka railway station area and to the northwest along Bakhmutska Street and Oleksy Tykhoho Street, as well as on both sides of the Shankhai Pond, in order to fully occupy the eastern part of the city on the opposite bank of the Kryvyi Torets. If by the end of spring the enemy does not capture Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Lyman, the Russian military command will have to change its plan for the summer 2026 offensive on the move, as the conditions for an assault on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk will not be created.
On the Oleksandrivka and Huliaypole Directions, the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will advance on the widest possible front, attempting to maximally stretch the forces of Ukrainian Defense Forces and their reserves, attempting to maximally stretch the Defense Forces and their reserves, and through active offensive actions by the 36th Combined Arms Army will attempt to ensure, on the main strike Direction toward Huliaypole, the maximum concentration of its own forces and assets in the zone of the 5th Combined Arms Army, which will advance in the general direction of Varvarivka – Verkhnya Tersa – Omelnyk. The enemy 35th Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through with its main forces to the near approaches to Orikhiv, after which it will assault the city. The enemy 58th Combined Arms Army will advance northward along the Dnipro River, will attempt to reach the defensive line of the 17th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces along the Konka River on the Malokaterynivka – Komyshuvakha section, and will attempt to cut its logistics in Orikhiv.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue trying to take control of most of the island zone in the Dnipro delta in the direction of Kherson, will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank, and to eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of the 30th Marine Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the automobile and railway bridges near Antonivka.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 18.02.26
Personnel - almost 1,256 080 (+740);
Tanks – 11,681 (+3);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 24,051 (+6);
Artillery systems – 37,363 (+40);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,648 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,302 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 78,919 (+194);
Aircraft - 435 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 137,924 (+1851);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,314 (+26);
Boats/ships – 30 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
According to the Air Force Command, on the night of February 18 Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M ballistic missile from Crimea and 126 UAVs of various types from the territory of the Russian Federation and the occupied peninsula. As of 8:30, air defense shot down and suppressed 100 enemy drones. A missile strike and 23 UAV hits were recorded at 14 locations, and debris fell in three areas. As of the morning, the attack continued.
On the evening of February 17, Russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia with drones: a woman died and six people sustained injuries. Windows in a residential building were shattered, balconies were damaged, and there was damage to the road surface and a non-residential premises.
According to the Ministry of Energy, as of the morning of February 18, hostilities and shelling of energy infrastructure caused power outages in Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The most difficult situation is in Odesa region, where more than 99,000 subscribers remain without electricity due to equipment damage and adverse weather. Hourly outage schedules operate in most regions, power capacity restrictions apply to enterprises, and emergency shutdown schedules were introduced in certain areas.
According to the State Emergency Service, a 61-year-old man died as a result of a Russian airstrike on Synelnykove district in Dnipropetrovsk region; his house was completely destroyed. Enemy shelling also caused a fire in another home, which rescuers promptly extinguished. In addition, artillery and UAV strikes hit Nikopol and surrounding communities, damaging private houses, vehicles, and civilian infrastructure; however, no casualties were reported in that area.
Two more teenagers were evacuated from the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region, including a girl whom Russian social services threatened with separation from her parents for refusing to obtain a Russian passport.