Russian forces reportedly conducted limited strikes against Ukrainian railway and industrial infrastructure on April 26.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces struck a train transporting Western weapons and military equipment near Udachne, Donetsk Oblast.[67]
Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson Major Ilya Yevlash stated on April 26 that Russian forces are using Su-57 fighter aircraft to launch missiles at Ukraine and are operating the aircraft far from frontline areas to avoid limited Ukrainian air defense systems downing the aircraft.[69] Yevlash noted that Russian forces can use Su-57 aircraft to launch Kh-69 cruise missiles.
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- Western media continues to report that select US officials have resumed discussing the idea of “freezing the lines” where they are because the latest package of US military assistance to Ukraine may not be enough for Ukraine to regain all its territory. Supporters of the current package have not claimed that it would by itself allow Ukraine to liberate all occupied territory, and the discussion of possible end states of the war is very premature as President Joe Biden signed the bill authorizing the new package only two days ago.
- Public meetings between officials from Russia, Belarus, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Iran, and North Korea have surged in recent days, with at least 10 high-level bilateral meetings between April 22 and 26, underscoring the deepening multilateral partnership these states are constructing to confront the West.
- PRC officials claimed that NATO bears responsibility for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine amid meetings between PRC officials and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 26.
- Ukraine’s Western partners continue to provide Ukraine with immediate and longer-term military assistance, particularly for Ukraine’s air defenses.
- The Ukrainian military has reportedly pulled US-provided M1A1 Abrams tanks from the frontline in part because of the widespread threat of Russian drones and other strikes.
- Russian authorities continue efforts to expand the definition of prosecutable anti-war sentiment to portray Russians who oppose the war in Ukraine as opposing Russia itself.
- Russian forces recently made a confirmed advance northwest of Avdiivka, and Ukrainian forces made a confirmed advance in east (left) bank Kherson Oblast, although this advance was likely not recent.
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkort service Idel Realii reported on April 26 that Samara Oblast is forming a new “Batyr” volunteer motorized rifle battalion.
- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) issued a joint statement on behalf of 45 member states stating that Russia has arbitrarily detained thousands of Ukrainian civilians in occupied Ukraine and subjected them to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Russian forces continued offensive operations near Chasiv Yar on April 26 but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline. Fighting occurred northeast of Chasiv Yar near Bohdanivka, near the Novyi and Kanal microraions in eastern Chasiv Yar, east of Chasiv Yar near Ivanivske, southeast of Chasiv Yar near the Stupky-Holubovskyi nature reserve and Klishchiivka, and south of Chasiv Yar near Shumy.[40] Ukrainian Khortytsia Group of Forces Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn stated on April 26 that Russian forces are attacking Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (southeast of Chasiv Yar) in an effort to bypass Chasiv Yar and set conditions to operationally encircle and seize the settlement.[41] Voloshyn stated that Russian forces are concentrating efforts on breaking through Ukrainian defenses east of Chasiv Yar, crossing the Siverskyi-Donets Donbas Canal, seizing Chasiv Yar, and creating conditions for subsequent drives on the Kramatorsk agglomeration (the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk-Druzhkivka-Kostyantynivka fortress belt).[42] Voloshyn reported that Russian forces have concentrated slightly more personnel near Klishchiivka and attacked heavily near Bila Hora (southeast of Chasiv Yar) on April 25.[43] Voloshyn added that Russian forces in the Bila Hora area are regrouping, accumulating ammunition, and actively demining the frontline.[44] Elements of the Russian 98th Airborne (VDV) Division are reportedly operating on Chasiv Yar’s eastern outskirts.[45]
Russian forces recently made additional tactical gains northwest of Avdiivka and reportedly advanced further in the area as of April 26. Geolocated footage published on April 26 indicates that Russian forces recently made marginal advances within central Solovyove (northwest of Avdiivka) and in central Semenivka (west of Avdiivka).[46] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced north of Ocheretyne (northwest of Avdiivka) and up to a kilometer west of the settlement along the O-0544 (Ocheretyne-Hrodivka) highway; north, west, and south of Novobakhmutivka (northwest of Avdiivka), and north of Novokalynove (northwest of Avdiivka).[47] Russian sources claimed that Russian forces seized the remainder of Berdychi (northwest of Avdiivka) and advanced in fields northwest of the settlement after Ukrainian forces withdrew from Berdychi.[48] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces seized the remainder of Semenivka, although Russian sources have previously claimed that Russian forces have seized the settlement.[49] ISW has not observed visual confirmation of any of these Russian claims. Voloshyn stated that Ukrainian forces currently control two-thirds of Ocheretyne and are preventing Russian forces from making further advances in the area.[50] Select Russian milbloggers claimed on April 25 and 26 that Ukrainian forces withdrew from Ocheretyne to Arkhanhelske (northeast of Ocheretyne and northwest of Avdiivka), although others claimed that Ukrainian forces retain positions in northwestern Ocheretyne.[51] A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian assault groups temporarily reached the outskirts of Arkhanhelske and argued that this indicates that Ukrainian forces likely do not have strong fortifications between Ocheretyne and Arkhanhelske.[52] Fighting also continued northwest of Avdiivka near Keramik, west of Avdiivka near Umanske, and southwest of Avdiivka near Netaylove and Nevelske.[53] Elements of the Russian 55th Motorized Rifle Brigade (41st Combined Arms Army [CAA], Central Military District [CMD]) are reportedly operating near Ocheretyne, and elements of the 114th Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st Donetsk People's Republic [DNR] AC) are reportedly operating near Semenivka.[54]