Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, whose words are cited by Russian media and reported by RBC-Ukraine, stated that the Russian military, according to him, controls Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region and is ready to begin clearing the city of mines. According to Peskov's estimate, this work will take about five days. The statement came amid ongoing discussions regarding the format of a possible humanitarian mission in the settlement.
Control over the city and the rotation issue
Peskov also commented on Kyiv's arguments regarding the possible military goals of the mission. According to him, if the Ukrainian side claims that Moscow can use the humanitarian mission in Kostiantynivka for military rotation, then, in his estimation, this means Kyiv's agreement that the city is under the control of the Russian army. Thus, the Kremlin links the very possibility of discussing the mission with the recognition of control over the territory.
Mission format and international monitoring
The Kremlin spokesman stated that Moscow expects the humanitarian mission to be conducted under the leadership of the ombudsperson of both countries and with monitoring by mass media. Peskov added that, according to him, the United States is sincerely interested in the implementation of the mission in Kostiantynivka. He urged European and American parties to use their influence on Kyiv to ensure the humanitarian mission takes place.
Context: meeting with US special envoys
These statements came against the backdrop of events on November 12, when Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with US presidential special envoys, stated that a humanitarian mission could be organized in Kostiantynivka along the lines of the one carried out in Oleshky, Kherson region. Thus, the Kremlin refers to the already implemented precedent, as it claims, as a model for Kostiantynivka.
Kyiv's position
The Office of the President of Ukraine reacted to the initiative of the Russian side, noting that the Russians may propose a humanitarian mission in Kostiantynivka in order to rotate their military personnel in Oleshky. In other words, the Ukrainian side interprets Moscow's proposal through the prism of military logistics rather than purely humanitarian tasks.
The exchange of statements demonstrates the difference in the presentation of the situation around Kostiantynivka: Moscow presents demining and the mission as a humanitarian step accompanied by ombudspersons and mass media, while Kyiv links the initiative with the potential rotation of Russian military personnel. The specific demining deadlines and the fact of control over the city named by the Kremlin remain statements by one side.
