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Ukraine-Russia War: 2026-04-18

Saturday, April 18, 2026 7 updates Last updated 14:30 UTC
14:30 UTC

Russian forces capture settlement of Zybyno in Kharkiv Oblast

Russian forces advancing as part of the North operational group have captured the settlement of Zybyno in Kharkiv Oblast, according to Russian military sources. The advance adds to continued Russian pressure along the northern front.
14:20 UTC

Ukraine warns Belarus over reported military buildup near border

Ukrainian intelligence reports that roads are being constructed near the Belarus-Ukraine border and artillery positions are being established. Kyiv stated that Russia is again attempting to drag Belarus into the war and warned Minsk of its readiness to defend its territory.
12:05 UTC

Lavrov says NATO not in best shape; Sibiha says Zelensky ready to meet Putin

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum that NATO is not in its best shape and that Russia does not interfere in the alliance internal affairs. He accused Germany and Finland of reviving Nazi philosophy and said Britain has never been far from such ideas. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said at the same forum that President Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the Russian side avoids such a meeting. Zelensky is ready, the question is why Putin is hiding, Sybiha said.
12:05 UTC Breaking

Ukrainian drones strike Baltic oil port and Volga industrial sites

Ukrainian drones hit two industrial cities on the Volga River and an oil products export port on the Baltic Sea near Saint Petersburg. In Leningrad Oblast, governor Alexander Drozdenko said a fire at the port of Vysotsk was extinguished. The port exports oil derivatives. In Samara Oblast, governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed attacks on industrial targets in the cities of Syzran and Novokuybyshevsk, about 1,800 km southeast of Vysotsk. Russian air defense said it shot down 258 Ukrainian drones overnight across Russian regions and over the Azov and Black Seas.
12:04 UTC Breaking

Russia attacks Ukraine with 219 drones overnight, 380,000 lose power

Russian forces launched 219 drones against Ukraine overnight from April 17 to 18, launched from Shatalovo, Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, as well as from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea. More than 150 were Shahed-type loitering munitions. Ukrainian air defense shot down 190 drones, but 28 hit 17 locations across the country. Debris fell on 9 additional locations. A major power infrastructure facility in Nizhyn district, Chernihiv region, was damaged, cutting electricity to 380,000 consumers in Chernihiv, Pryluky, Nizhyn and Slavutych, according to energy company Chernihivoblenergo.
06:17 UTC

Russia plans to increase large-scale strikes on Ukraine to seven per month

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha cited intelligence data indicating that Russia is preparing to escalate its large-scale strike campaign against Ukraine to up to seven major attacks per month. The assessment comes as Russia continues to expand its missile production capacity.
06:16 UTC Breaking

Ukrainian intelligence reports Russia preparing new Donbas offensive with 680,000 troops

Ukrainian military intelligence deputy chief Vadym Skibitsky stated that Russia is planning a new ground offensive in southeastern Ukraine, aiming to capture the entirety of Donbas by September. Moscow is reportedly deploying strategic reserves to add 20,000 additional soldiers to its existing 680,000-strong force. Skibitsky also noted that intensified missile and drone strikes are part of a broader strategy to destroy infrastructure ahead of the spring-summer offensive campaign.