Between January and May 2026, Russian armed forces continued their advance along several sections of the border with Ukraine, as well as in the Donbas and Zaporizhzhia regions. As a result of offensive actions, a buffer zone has been formed along the border areas.
In the Sumy direction, the following settlements came under Russian control: Hrabovske, Komarivka, Bila Bereza, Popivka, Sydorivka, Taratutyne, Novodmytrivka, Korchakivka, Myropilske.
In Kharkiv region, Russian forces took control of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, Starytsia, Syminivka, Podoly, Chuhunivka, Hlushkivka, Zemlianky, Bochkove, Veterynarne, Vovchanski Khutory, Zybine, Pokaliane, Verkhnia Pysarivka.
In Luhansk region, as of April 2026, the entire territory was reported as fully seized. During the military actions, Kovsharivka, Drobysheve and Yarova were taken.
In Donetsk region, advances were recorded in the following settlements: Berestok, Zakitne, Pryvillia, Stepanivka, Sosnove, Illichivka, Novooleksandrivka, Boikove, Luhovske, and part of Krasnyi Lyman; Novopavlivka, Hryshyne, Pavlivka, Novyi Donbas, Bilytske, Drobysheve, Yarova, Sukhetske, Toretske, Dibrova Bondarne, Iljinivka, Novodmytrivka, Boikove, Luhovske. Active fighting continues in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Kryva Luka.
In Zaporizhzhia region, the following came under control: Ternuvate, Novoyakovlivka, Richne, Pryluky, Pavlivka, Zhovtneve, Bilohiria, Novoboikivske, Zelene, Petrivka, Staroukrainka, Prydorozhnie, Zaliznychne, Tsvitkove, Rizdvianka, Veseleanka and Boikove. Fighting is ongoing in Huliaipole and Orikhiv.
In Dnipropetrovsk region, partial seizure was recorded in Mahdalynivka, Prymorske, Zaspace, Krasnoznamianka, and part of Novopavlivka.
