Russia’s war on Ukraine. 26.02.26
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Kindrativka, Novomykolayivka, Nova Sich, Yunakivka, Loknia, Mala Korchakivka, Borky, in the direction of Myropillya, near Pokrovka and Hrabovske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Andriivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, the 82nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army fought for Hrafske. Russian forces captured Prylipka and Vilcha and attacked near Vovchansk, Zelene, Lyman, Symynivka, Starytsia, Mala Vovcha and Synelnykove.
On the Kupyansk Direction, Russian forces attacked near and inside Kupyansk, near Petropavlivka, Kucherivka, Pishchane, Hlushkivka, Kurylivka, Borivska Andriivka and Novoyehorivka, in the direction of Shyikivka, Oleksandrivka and Novoserhiyivka. The military command of the enemy “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping lacks a clear picture of the front line to such an extent that up to half of the UAV crews of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army and the entire 136th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the division perform this task.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Radkivka and Sobolivka.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Russian forces attacked near Lyman, Yarova, Sosnove, Drobysheve, Stavky, Yampil, Dronivka, Zakytne, Kryva Luka and Kalenyky, in the direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka, near Lypivka and Bondarne, in the direction of Fedorivka Druha.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, Russian forces advanced east of Kostyantynivka and south of Illinivka and attacked in the direction of Novodmytrivka, near Ivanopillya, Berestok, Stepanivka, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Druzhkivka and Sofiivka, in the direction of Novopavlivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, Russian forces captured Rivne, advanced southeast of Bilytske and northeast of Zaporizhzhia, attempted to advance south of Kucheriv Yar and attacked near Toretsk and Pokrovsk and Hryshyne, in the direction of Novooleksandrivka, near Rodynske, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novopidhorodnie and Molodetske, in the direction of Serhiivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces assaulted positions of infiltration groups southeast of Bilytske.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces attacked near Novopavlivka, Novomykolayivka, Filiya, Zelenyi Hai, Ternove and Kalynivske, in the direction of Vyshneve.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in Novopavlivka and advanced south of Verbove.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Russian forces advanced west of Olenokostyantynivka, near Huliaypole, Rizdvyanka, Zlahoda, Vozdvyzhivka, Dobropillya, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Varvarivka, Zahirne, Bilohirya, Verkhnya Tersa, Zalizne, Svyatopetrivka and Krynychne, in the direction of Hirke.
Ukrainian Defense Forces began local counterattacks in the Huliaypole area.
On the Orikhiv Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced in the center of Stepnohirsk and struck enemy positions north of Novoyakovlivka and counterattacked near Prymorske and Novoyakovlivka.
Russian forces struck in Stepnohirsk and attacked in the direction of Huliaypilske, near Mali Shcherbaky, Prymorske, Stepove, Stepnohirsk, Plavni, Novoyakovlivka and Magdalynivka.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck enemy concentration areas in the area of ZuGRES, near Novohryhorivka of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and air defense objects in the area of Sofiivka, Crimea.
General conclusion:
Russian forces reduced the intensity of attacks in the border zone of Sumy Oblast and part of the border zone of Kharkiv Oblast, but increase strikes with UAVs and artillery, conduct reconnaissance-in-force against Ukrainian defenses on the border of Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts, and prepare to resume assault actions.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, blocking of Starlink terminals of Russian forces disorganized command and control and led to a reduction in the intensity of attacks.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces ceased constant attacks, the morale and psychological state of enemy troops remains low.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 235 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 12 enemy attacks were repelled.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, the enemy assaulted positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces units 12 times in the areas of Pishchane, Starytsia, Rybalkyne and Vovchansk and in the direction of Zelene and Lyman.
On the Kupyansk direction, 8 enemy attacks occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions in the area of Borivska Andriivka and in the direction of Novoplatonivka, Pishchane and Kurylivka.
On the Sloviansk Direction, 13 enemy attempts to advance in the direction of Novoyehorivka, Drobysheve and Lyman and in the areas of Myrne, Yampil and Platonivka were repelled.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy carried out 23 attacks in the direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka and in the areas of Bondarne and Minkivka and in the direction of Kostyantynivka, Ivanopillya, Illinivka, Berestok, Rusyn Yar, Stepanivka, Novopavlivka and Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, 57 enemy offensive actions were stopped in the areas of Rodynske, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Udachne, Novomykolayivka, Muravka and Filiya and in the direction of Bilytske, Hryshyne, Novopidhorodnie, Novooleksandrivka and Novopavlivka.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy attacked 5 times in the areas of Zelenyi Hai, Ternove, Vyshneve and Kalynivske.
On the Huliaypole Direction, he enemy attempted to advance 36 times in the areas of Huliaypole and Bilohirya and in the direction of Dobropillya, Zaliznychne, Hirke and Varvarivka.
On the Orikhiv direction, 8 attacks were repelled in the areas of Stepnohirsk, Mali Shcherbaky and Stepove.
On the Prydniprovske direction, an enemy attack was stopped.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 121st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army infiltrates into the northern part of Kupyansk.
The 70th Motorized Rifle Division of the 18th Combined Arms Army operates in the direction of Novodmytrivka and Virolyubivka from Chasiv Yar, the 20th and the 150th Motorized Rifle Divisions of the 8th Combined Arms Army and the 120th Motorized Rifle Division operate in the direction of Novopavlivka and Pavlivka from Sofiivka and Rusyn Yar, the 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army and the 10th Tank Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division operate near Illinivka and Berestok, the 77th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 7th Military Base of the 49th Combined Arms Army operates from Stepanivka in the direction of Dovha Balka, elements of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps operate in the southeast of Kostyantynivka, the 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the corps operates near Predtechyne and Stupochky, the 1008th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division and the 1194th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army conduct strikes in Kostyantynivka, the 27th Artillery Regiment of the division and the 78th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army conduct strikes in and near Kostyantynivka.
The 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army conducts strikes near Toretsk, the 238th Artillery Brigade of the 8th Combined Arms Army conducts strikes near Serhiivka, the 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army operates near Shevchenkove.
The 14th Separate SOF Brigade and the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army conduct strikes against Ukrainian forces in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
The 8th BARS detachment conducts strikes near Huliaypole.
The 1455th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army conducts strikes in Stepnohirsk.
The 217th Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division conducts strikes near Antonivka.
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 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 Lyman, Sloviansk, and Kostyantynivka directions are acquiring strategic significance, as the enemy’s military-political leadership is urgently requiring several convincing operational victories that can be presented as victory in the entire 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 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. To restore the situation in the Kupyansk area, the enemy intensifies operations in the offensive zone of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army, which conducts a frontal offensive 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.
On the Sloviansk Direction, the command of the enemy’s 3rd Combined Arms Army has an immediate task to reach the Mykolaivka – Nykanorivka line with its main forces, that is, to reach the near approaches to Sloviansk from the east, and reach the Vasylivska Pustosh – Vasyutynske line with part of its forces, that is, the near approaches to Kramatorsk from the east.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the command of Russian forces will attempt to seize the Druzhkivka–Kostyantynivka agglomeration by enveloping the flanks of Kostyantynivka, while simultaneously breaking through to the near approaches to Druzhkivka, after which 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. Ukrainian Defense Forces will be forced to withdraw from the area between Kostyantynivka and the Kleban-Byk Reservoir under the threat of encirclement to the area north of road T0504, that is, to the central and western parts of Kostyantynivka, which will slow the assault actions of the enemy 3rd Army Corps in the city itself.
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 26.02.26
Personnel - almost 1,263 850 (+1,360);
Tanks – 11,704 (+3);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 24,091 (0);
Artillery systems – 37,614 (+25);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,659 (+4);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,305 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 80,064 (+93);
Aircraft - 435 (0);
Helicopters – 348 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 147,138 (+681);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,347 (0);
Boats/ships – 31 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, on the night of February 26 Russia carried out a massive attack against Ukraine, using 459 air attack means: 2 Zircon anti-ship missiles, 11 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, 24 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 2 Kh-69 guided air-launched missiles and 420 UAVs of various types (about 280 Shaheds, as well as Gerbera and Italmass). As of 10:00 Ukrainian air defense shot down and suppressed 406 targets, including both Zircons, 4 ballistic missiles, all Kh-101 and Kh-69 missiles, as well as 374 UAVs. At the same time, hits of 5 ballistic missiles and 46 strike UAVs were recorded at 32 locations, and debris fell at 15 locations; information regarding several missiles is currently being clarified.
As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported, during the night Russia attacked gas infrastructure in Poltava Oblast, electrical substations in Kyiv Oblast and Dnipro Oblast.
During the night Russia attacked railway infrastructure in Kharkiv Oblast, Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Donetsk Oblast, and also struck the territory of the children’s railway in Kharkiv Oblast, reported Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba.
On the night of February 26 Russian occupiers damaged a five-storey building in Kryvyi Rih using Shahed-type UAVs. According to the head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Oleksandr Hanha, structural elements of the building were damaged and many windows were shattered. As a result of the attack two elderly people were injured — an 89-year-old man and an 82-year-old woman.
Due to the combined night attack by the enemy damage and fires were recorded in three districts of Kyiv. According to Mayor Vitalii Klitschko, in Darnytskyi district a nine-storey building was damaged by the blast wave from falling debris. In Holosiivskyi district debris caused garages to ignite on the territory of a private household, and in Pecherskyi district a private house caught fire. All fires were localized or extinguished, no information about casualties was reported.
As a result of the combined attack by the Russian Federation using ballistic missiles and UAVs in Kharkiv a direct hit was recorded on a residential high-rise building in Shevchenkivskyi district. According to Mayor Ihor Terekhov, private housing was also damaged in the city, contact networks were severed and a gas pipeline was damaged, and a fire broke out in Slobidskyi district. As of morning 16 injured are known, including two children (including a 7-year-old boy). Consequences of the enemy attack in Rai-Olenivka are also reported.
As a result of the night attack in Poltava Oblast due to falling debris and direct hits an industrial enterprise, technological equipment and production facilities were damaged; large-scale fires broke out. In Lubny district more than 18 thousand residential and almost 1.8 thousand legal consumers were left without electricity due to damage to power lines. In Kirovohrad Oblast as a result of a UAV attack in Novoarkhanhelsk community one person was injured and roofs of five private houses were damaged.
On the night of February 26 as a result of the Russian attack an energy facility in the south of Odesa Oblast was damaged, reports the head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration Oleh Kiper. According to preliminary information there were no casualties.
According to the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in Kyiv Oblast, as a result of the combined night attack on February 26 damage and fires were recorded in two districts of the Oblast. In Vyshhorod district rescuers extinguished a warehouse fire in Novi Petrivtsi and a private house fire in Stari Petrivtsi. In Brovary district in the village of Pohreby belongings and a vehicle burned on the territory of a private household, and near the village of Rozhivka debris of a UAV ignited in an open area.
According to the head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration Ivan Fedorov and the State Emergency Service, on the night of February 26 Russian occupation forces carried out a combined attack on Zaporizhzhia, as a result of which 10 people were injured. Enemy strikes caused damage to a private house, a high-rise building where a fire broke out on several floors, and two shopping centers in the city. In addition to residential buildings and commercial facilities, infrastructure objects were also attacked.
According to the head of Vinnytsia Oblast Military Administration Nataliia Zabolotna, during the night attack on February 26 5 cruise missiles and 18 UAVs were recorded in the Oblast’s airspace. As a result of enemy strikes nearly 40 residential buildings suffered significant damage, and energy infrastructure facilities were damaged, however there are currently no power outages in the Oblast. One injured woman is known.
In the morning of February 26 Kramatorsk community came under artillery fire. A woman born in 1989 and a man born in 1979 were wounded. Six households were damaged.
According to the head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin, on February 26 at about 14:10 as a result of Russian shelling in Korabelnyi district of Kherson a 62-year-old woman was killed. In addition, during another attack at approximately 16:10 two more people were injured — a 63-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman; they were outside at the time of the strike and sustained concussions, blast injuries and closed craniocerebral injuries.
Currently the register of missing persons under special circumstances maintained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine contains more than 90 thousand entries – military personnel and civilians, including children. Most of them are servicemen of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
On February 26 within the framework of repatriation measures 1000 bodies (remains) of the deceased were returned to Ukraine, which according to preliminary information from the Russian side may belong to Ukrainian servicemen.