During a meeting with the military leadership, Vladimir Putin declared that Russian forces had established control over the city of Konstantynivka in the Donetsk region. According to him, this marked the first, yet crucial, stage in dismantling the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hub, which includes Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Konstantynivka.
Official version versus the map
Putin emphasized that with the "capture" of Konstantynivka, the front line had receded to the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk ridge. However, data from independent sources, specifically the DeepState map, do not confirm these claims. At present, Russian troops are in the vicinity of the settlement but do not fully control it.
Doubts regarding General Staff reports
The head of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, also reported to Putin that full control over the Luhansk region had been established. Yet again, facts diverge from official statements: according to the same DeepState data, the situation on the ground looks different.
Massive strikes and their consequences
Putin called for the continuation of massive strikes against Ukraine, designating defense industry enterprises as priority targets. In practice, however, as numerous reports show, residential buildings are also hit, leading to significant destruction in civilian areas.
International context and warnings
The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) previously reported on the concentration of approximately 11,000 Russian troops in the Konstantynivka–Druzhkivka area. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military officials, including Yuri Madyar, deputy commander of the 19th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, have refuted claims of the city's imminent capture. Furthermore, the ISW warned about Russia's potential use of AI-generated video materials to spread false information about its successes.
