Russian troops have entered Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, a city that forms part of Ukraine’s defensive “fortress belt.” The settlement is now effectively in a “grey zone,” with ongoing hostilities potentially impacting the defense of the entire northern part of the oblast.
Russians are infiltrating Kostiantynivka / © Associated Press
Russian occupying forces have advanced into Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk Oblast. This city is a crucial component of the Ukrainian defensive “fortress belt” in Donbas. Currently, Kostiantynivka is essentially situated within a “grey zone,” with neither side exercising complete control over the settlement.
This information has been reported by The Telegraph.
Russians have infiltrated Kostiantynivka: what happens next
Ukrainian military personnel are reporting the infiltration of Russian forces into the city. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims an “intensification of actions” in the southwestern part of the city and attempts to encircle Ukrainian units. Russian occupiers are advancing from the south and have been observed on the northern outskirts of Kostiantynivka.
The enemy is employing tactics similar to those used in the capture of Pokrovsk in 2025, encircling the city from the flanks to cut off supply routes. If the Russians succeed in breaking through in this sector, it would open a path for them towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk – the last major strongholds of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the northern Donetsk region.
Intelligence reports indicate that the Russian command has pledged to President Vladimir Putin to capture these cities by the end of the year. The situation in Kostiantynivka remains critical. Ukrainian soldiers state that it is very difficult to dislodge the enemy in urban combat.
Ukraine officially denies the threat of the city being completely surrounded. The commander of the 19th Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Oleksandr Bakulin, assured that the situation remains under control and the enemy has not achieved any successes. However, he confirmed the presence of approximately 130 Russian soldiers within Kostiantynivka.
Photo: DeepStateMap
Currently, around 2,000 civilians remain in Kostiantynivka. The city is completely cut off from humanitarian aid and emergency services.
Kostiantynivka, along with Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkivka, forms the defensive line in the northern Donetsk region. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) predict that at the current pace of advancement, Russia may require at least another two years to fully capture the Donetsk Oblast.
Dr. Shane O’Rourke, an expert on Russian history from the University of York, believes the city’s fate is currently uncertain.
“It seems the city is hanging by a thread, but we’ve been in this position with many other cities before. The Russians have a habit of claiming cities have fallen long before they actually have.”
The fall of Kostiantynivka would grant Putin a long-desired sense of battlefield success, as the complete seizure of the Donetsk Oblast has remained Russia’s primary objective since 2022.
The increased fighting in Kostiantynivka is occurring against a backdrop of relative stagnation on other front lines. This year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have reclaimed more territory than they have lost.
Kostiantynivka: latest news
We remind you that the situation on the front in the Donetsk region remains extremely tense. Military analyst Konstantin Mashovets from the Center for Military-Political Research has published a pessimistic forecast suggesting that in June-July, the Ukrainian Defense Forces may be forced to abandon Kostiantynivka.
The challenging situation around the city is also confirmed by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Geolocation footage indicates attempts by Russian occupiers to establish positions on the outskirts of Kostiantynivka, where fierce battles are currently underway. For the Russian forces, capturing Kostiantynivka is a strategically significant objective, as the city serves as a “gateway” to other settlements within the Donbas “fortress belt.”
The loss of Kostiantynivka could significantly accelerate Russian advances in the Donetsk region and substantially complicate the position of Ukrainian forces on other sections of the front.
The occupiers have concentrated significant forces on capturing Kostiantynivka and have made it their primary target. Two large tactical groups of the enemy – “Bakhmut” and “Dzerzhinsk” – are conducting assaults.
Tactical Group “Bakhmut” advanced from Stupochky through Novodmytrivka, entered the northeastern part of Kostiantynivka, and proceeded along the Pokrovsk-Bakhmut highway. Concurrently, Group “Dzerzhinsk” is advancing from the direction of Illinivka and has already achieved a tactical breakthrough in the western part of the city.
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