Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially refuted claims by the Russian leadership regarding the capture of Konstantynivka in the Donetsk region. Despite loud statements from the Kremlin, the city remains under the control of Ukrainian forces, and fighting in the area continues with high intensity.

"Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Residences"

In his address, the head of state criticized Vladimir Putin's rhetoric. Zelenskyy emphasized that the Russian leader has already publicly "claimed" Konstantynivka for himself, yet in reality, he would never risk appearing in this city. According to the Ukrainian President, Putin's actual sphere of influence is limited to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and his personal residences.

"Fighting is also taking place for Konstantynivka, which Putin has already claimed for himself, but it is clear — he will never risk appearing there," noted Zelenskyy, highlighting the gap between propaganda statements and reality on the front lines.

The cynicism of war and enemy losses

The Ukrainian leader also touched upon the cynical nature of the conflict. He pointed out that the Russian leadership relies only on a narrow circle of associates, destroying everything that falls within their zone of interest. Meanwhile, the Kremlin loses a huge number of its own citizens every month.

"In June alone — also nearly 30,000 confirmed casualties of Russian occupiers on the front — killed and seriously wounded," the President reported, citing shocking statistics of enemy losses for a single month.

Difficult sections of the front

Zelenskyy identified the most tense directions where fierce battles are currently taking place. These include:

  • Donbas;
  • Zaporizhzhia region;
  • Kharkiv region.

The head of state expressed gratitude to Ukrainian soldiers who are fighting on these difficult fronts to defend the country.

Negotiations in Konstantynivka and the Kremlin's conditions

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Konstantynivka, calling it an "enthusiastic" offer. The logic of the Ukrainian leader was simple: if the city is indeed under the control of Russian troops, then Putin should have no problem traveling there for negotiations.

However, the Kremlin's reaction turned out to be predictably absurd. The Russian leadership proposed holding the meeting exclusively on the territory of the Russian capital, effectively ignoring the essence of Kyiv's proposal.

Military aspect: why a pause is needed

Specialists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have analyzed the situation in Konstantynivka and explained why the Russian command critically needs a pause in the fighting. According to the military, the enemy requires at least six hours of ceasefire to regroup forces and realistically assess their position in the city.