MOSCOW: Russia’s military announced on Friday that its forces have taken full control of Kostiantynivka, a highly strategic locality in eastern Ukraine that Moscow has long targeted in its ongoing offensive through the Donetsk region.
The major battlefield claim was made by General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. General Gerasimov delivered the report directly to President Vladimir Putin, who was visiting a command post overseeing the actions of Russian forces in the now five-year-old conflict.
Breaking a Major Defensive Hub
During his briefing on the war’s progress, Gerasimov stated that the southern group of Russia’s forces is actively “carrying out offensive operations to liberate” the entirety of the Donetsk region.
He highlighted the specific tactical significance of Friday’s announcement, noting that Kostiantynivka serves as a critical linchpin in Ukraine’s regional defense network.
“The troops of the group have liberated the city of Kostiantynivka, one of the main defensive hubs of the enemy within the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk-Kostiantnynivka fortified area,” Gerasimov reported to Putin.
Visual Claims and Silence from Kyiv
Prior to this announcement, the Russian military had reported for some time that its troops were gradually seizing control of parts of Kostiantynivka.
To back the claim of full capture, the Russian Defence Ministry published a post on the Telegram messaging app. The post featured scenes purportedly from the newly captured town, including images of Russian servicemen raising national flags amidst heavily shattered and ruined buildings.
As of the time of the announcement, Ukraine’s military has not issued a comment or confirmation regarding the Russian military’s report on Kostiantynivka.
