One of the most intense chapters of the modern war is unfolding in the Donetsk region. Konstantynivka — a city that once served as the final stop for trains connecting Kyiv and Kharkiv with Donetsk — has today found itself at the epicenter of fierce fighting. If the Russian army captures this settlement, it will signal the start of an offensive against Ukraine's last major bastion in the region.
Strategic Significance and History
Located 60 kilometers north of Donetsk, Konstantynivka historically played the role of the southern gateway to the Kramatorsk-Konstantynivka agglomeration. Following the occupation of Donetsk in 2014, it became the northern hub for command and logistics for the part of the region controlled by Ukraine. At the start of the full-scale war in February 2022, nearly 80,000 people lived in the city. Today, the exact number of remaining civilians is unknown, though media reports cite a figure of around two thousand. The city is completely cut off from humanitarian aid and emergency services.
The War in the Information Sphere
The situation around Konstantynivka has sparked a storm of reactions in the information space. In early July 2026, the Kremlin declared that the Russian army had finally captured the city. However, there is no independent confirmation of this. Ukraine rejected Moscow's statement, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed meeting Vladimir Putin in Konstantynivka to find diplomatic solutions to end the war.
Analysts from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported in a July 13 report only on "penetration operations" by Russian troops within the city limits. Experts note that many materials from Russian sources showing advances in the city were likely created using artificial intelligence. Even the head of the self-proclaimed "DNR," Denis Pushilin, admitted that hostilities in Konstantynivka continue and Ukrainian troops remain there.
Tactics and Expert Forecasts
Ukrainian military experts also do not confirm the full capture of the city. Coordinator of the "Information Resistance" group, Oleksandr Kovalenko, describes the situation as extremely complex. According to his data, Russian troops are advancing in various districts, but successes are uneven: they are more effective in the west than in the east.
"The difficulty is that they often advance in small groups, and sometimes even individual soldiers. This scatters the attention of Ukrainian defenders," notes Kovalenko. He does not believe Russia will be able to capture Konstantynivka by the end of July, forecasting that the fighting could continue for more than one month.
Austrian military expert Markus Reissner is skeptical of Russian claims about capturing the city based on photos with flags. "Raising a flag in a certain area means nothing yet. For that, the city must be reliably taken under control by Russian infantry," he emphasizes. Kovalenko adds that almost every Russian soldier showing a flag with geolocation becomes a target for Ukrainian military forces within minutes.
The Key Question of Supply
The main factor determining the outcome of the battle is logistics. As Markus Reissner notes, the fact is that fighting is taking place for Konstantynivka and Russian troops are advancing. The critical question becomes: will the Ukrainian Defense Forces be able to continue supplying their soldiers with food and ammunition, including with the help of ground and aerial drones. If the Russian side cuts off these supply routes, the situation for the city's defenders will become critical.
