The situation 1488 – April 18, 2026

1. Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign continues to exploit overstretched Russian air defenses to damage oil infrastructure and military assets in Russia and occupied Crimea.
2. Russian milbloggers criticized Russian air defense failures on the heels of the successful Ukrainian strike campaign against Russian oil and defense industrial infrastructure.
3. Russia appears to be leveraging Russian SIM cards with international roaming data capability in Ukrainian border areas to support its long-range strike campaign against Ukraine.
4. The United States extended on April 17 the waiver allowing Russia to sell its existing seaborne oil until May 16.
5. Russian forces advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.
6. Russian forces launched 219 long-range drones against Ukraine.

The full update of the Russian offensive 1488 is available on UNDERSTANDING WAR.