(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Ukraine Invasion Day 1,529: Air attacks continue. Less land lost [1] ['View Profile', 'A Pagan In Arizona', 'Miles Estrelle', 'Melody', 'Mel', 'News Corpse', 'Just Saying'] Date: 2026-05-02 Russian forces conducted a series of long-range drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of May 1 to 2. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 163 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other drones – of which roughly 142 were Shaheds, including jet-powered Shaheds – from the directions of Kursk and Oryol cities; Millerovo, Rostov Oblast; Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; and occupied Hvardiiske and Cape Chauda, Crimea.[47] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 142 drones, that 17 drones struck 12 locations, and that downed debris fell on two locations. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes damaged civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv Oblast and port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast.[48] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russian forces struck an energy facility in Mykolaiv Oblast and other targets in Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Sumy oblasts, and Kharkiv City.[49] The Ukrainian Air Force reported on May 2 that Ukrainian forces destroyed over 57,000 Russian air targets in April 2026, including 69 Kh-101 cruise missiles; seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles; eight Kaliber cruise missiles; four Kh-59/69 guided aircraft missiles; five Iskander-K cruise missiles; 4,861 Shahed drones; 1,065 reconnaissance drones; and 51,110 other types of drones.[50] https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-2-2026 Russia launched 163 drones against Ukraine overnight, including about 100 Shaheds, and Ukrainian air defenses said they downed or suppressed 142 by 08:00. Officials recorded 17 drone hits across 12 locations, with debris falling at 2 more sites Ukrainian forces likely struck a Russian air defense system during their April 30 to May 1 overnight strike against Krasnodar Krai. Russian opposition source Astra stated on May 1 that the Ukrainian strike against the Tuapse Oil Refinery, Krasnodar Krai, likely also struck a Russian air defense system, possibly a Pantsir system, in Tuapse.[9] Astra reported that footage shows the launch of Russian air defense missiles followed by an explosion at the launch site. Astra assessed that the strike likely damaged the air defense system but did not completely destroy it, as Russian forces subsequently launched two more missiles from the site. https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-2-2026 Key Takeaways Russian forces in April 2026 suffered a net loss of territory controlled in the Ukrainian theater for the first time since Ukraine’s August 2024 incursion into Kursk Oblast. * The relative decline in the rate of Russian advances may be related in part to annual seasonal patterns. The rate of Russian advances has slowed in 2026 compared to 2025, but the changing character of the war, particularly Russia’s increased use of infiltration tactics over the course of 2025, makes year-on-year comparisons difficult. * The Kremlin uses Russian infiltration tactics in part to exaggerate Russian control of terrain. * ISW has reviewed and refined its mapping data and methodology, identifying and rectifying some data artifacts that did not affect the visible map geometry but did affect some calculations of area. These changes have not affected ISW’s previously assessed trendlines of the Russian rate of advance. * Russian milbloggers identified problems with the Russian air campaign and assessed that Russian forces may not be able to take advantage of reported increased bombing capabilities. * Russian forces recently advanced near Novopavlivka and in western Zaporizhia Oblast. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area. * Ukrainian forces likely struck a Russian air defense system during their April 30 to May 1 overnight strike against Krasnodar Krai. * Russian forces launched 163 drones toward Ukraine overnight. General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine *Operational update as of 10:00 PM on May 2, 2026, regarding the Russian invasion A total of 116 combat engagements have taken place since the start of this day. The enemy carried out 47 airstrikes, dropping 151 guided bombs. Additionally, they deployed 5,360 kamikaze drones and fired 2,266 rounds at populated areas and our troops’ positions. In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the enemy carried out 82 shelling attacks on our troops’ positions and populated areas today, two of them using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Two enemy assault operations were recorded. In the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy attacked the positions of our units five times in the Starytsia area and toward Lyman, Izbytske, and Okhrimivka. In the Kupiansky direction, the enemy attacked once toward Novoplatonivka. In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled five assaults by the occupiers toward the settlements of Drobysheve and Lyman. In the Sloviansk direction, the enemy attacked twice in the Zakytne area and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka. In the Kramatorsk sector, the occupiers attacked twice toward Malynivka and in the Bondarne area. In the Kostiantynivka sector, the occupiers launched 16 assaults today on the positions of our defenders in the areas of the settlements of Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, and toward Zolotyi Kolodiaz. Three attacks are ongoing. In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy launched 24 attacks. The occupiers attempted to advance toward the settlements of Bilytske, Nove Shakhove, Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Udachne, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Muravka, and Molodetske. According to preliminary estimates, 54 occupiers were eliminated and 24 wounded in this sector today; 11 enemy vehicles and an artillery system were destroyed. Additionally, five enemy vehicles, 90 enemy shelters, and three artillery systems were damaged. A total of 239 UAVs of various types were destroyed or neutralized. In the Oleksandrivka sector, the occupiers launched four attacks toward Oleksandrohrad, Zlagoda, and the Ternove area. In the Huliaipole direction, 14 attacks by the occupiers were recorded in the areas of the settlements of Dobropillia, Zaliznychne, Sviatopetrivka, Staroukrainka, Charivne, Hirke, Tsvitkove, Myrne, and Varvarivka. One of these attacks is ongoing. In the Orikhiv direction, the enemy launched two attacks toward the areas of Stepove and Primorske. In the Prydniprovsk direction, the enemy carried out three attacks toward Antonivka. In other directions, there were no significant changes in the situation. Let’s defeat the enemy and bring our Victory closer! Glory to Ukraine! https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-2-2026/ Russian forces in April 2026 suffered a net loss of territory controlled in the Ukrainian theater for the first time since Ukraine’s August 2024 incursion into Kursk Oblast. Russian forces in April 2026 suffered a net loss of territory controlled in the Ukrainian theater for the first time since Ukraine’s August 2024 incursion into Kursk Oblast. ISW has observed evidence to assess that Russian forces lost control of 116 square kilometers in April 2026, not counting areas into which Russian troops may have infiltrated. The Russian rate of advance across the battlefield has been steadily declining since November 2025 as continued Ukrainian ground counterattacks, Ukrainian mid-range strikes, the February 2026 block on Russia’s use of Starlink terminals in Ukraine, and the Kremlin’s throttling of Telegram have exacerbated existing problems within the Russian military. The rate of Russian advances has slowed in 2026 compared to 2025, but the changing character of the war, particularly Russia’s increased use of infiltration tactics over the course of 2025, makes year-on-year comparisons difficult. ISW has observed evidence to assess that Russian forces seized 1,443.35 square kilometers in the past six months (November 2025 to April 2026) compared with 2,368.38 square kilometers seized during the same time period in 2024-2025. Russian forces seized an average of 2.9 square kilometers per day in the first four months of 2026 compared to 9.76 square kilometers per day in the first four months of 2025. Russian forces have been increasingly using infiltration tactics since Fall 2025, however, and ISW created its assessed Russian infiltration layer to depict these infiltration areas as distinct from areas in which Russian forces have advanced and seized territory. Comparisons of Russian gains this year with those of previous years when infiltration tactics were rarer thus are not straightforward, as Russian forces exert a significantly lower degree of control over infiltration areas than they do over seized areas. https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-2-2026 Russian asset Trump has removed all military assistance to Ukraine from the $1.5 trillion U.S. military budget. Ukraine is the only fighting defender of the West against russian armed aggression. Trump gets his orders from the Kremlin and obeys without question. He is a traitor. — Michael MacKay (@mhmck) May 1, 2026 For anyone surprised with this news don’t be. One of the last things Trump wanted to do before he left office during his first term was to pull 12,000 troops from Germany He continues delivering for Russia https://t.co/wjADbMVJxN — Olga Lautman 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@OlgaNYC1211) May 1, 2026 [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/5/2/800031940/community/1529/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/