Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Friday that Russian forces have captured Kostiantynivka, a key logistical and industrial hub in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. General Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia's General Staff, reportedly informed Putin of the capture, describing Kostiantynivka as "one of the main defensive hubs" in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk-Kostiantynivka fortified area. Putin characterized the city's capture as an important strategic achievement and the "first, but very important stage" in dismantling Ukrainian defenses in the region, aiming to eventually secure full control over the entire Donbas.
However, Ukraine has not commented on Russia's claim. According to RBC-Ukraine, the DeepState map, a public resource tracking front-line changes, indicates that Russian troops are near Kostiantynivka but have not fully captured it. This mirrors past instances where Putin's claims of territorial gains were later refuted by Ukrainian officials. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) had previously warned that Russia might use AI-generated videos to spread misinformation about its successes in the area and noted that Russia had concentrated approximately 11,000 troops in the Kostiantynivka–Druzhkivka tactical area.
Putin also stated that an increased "security zone" must be established in response to intensified Ukrainian long-range strikes. He asserted that the captured territories, including Kostiantynivka, are "historically Russian land." The capture of Kostiantynivka is seen by Russia as crucial for further advances towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, two of the remaining major Ukrainian-held cities in Donetsk. Putin emphasized the city's role as a vital transport and industrial center in the Donbas.
