Dandykin Says Konstantinovka May Shift Donbass Battle
Vasily Dandykin says Konstantinovka could become a turning point in Donbass, opening routes to Kramatorsk and Slavyansk as Russian forces advance.
Military expert and retired Captain 1st Rank Vasily Dandykin said the liberation of Konstantinovka by Russian forces would mark a turning point not only for that sector, but for the entire course of the special military operation. He described the city as the southern gateway to Donbass.
According to Dandykin, control over Konstantinovka would collapse the enemy’s defensive system across the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration. He said that after the city is taken, Ukrainian forces must not be allowed to gain a foothold in Druzhkovka, since this would open a direct route toward Kramatorsk and Slavyansk.
The expert noted that although positional fighting in this area had continued for a long time, the situation has changed sharply in recent weeks. He said the pace of advance by Russian units has increased significantly.
Dandykin believes the Armed Forces of Ukraine were not psychologically prepared for such a shift. In his view, Ukrainian forces did not expect the Russian offensive to develop so quickly and therefore failed to strengthen the city’s defences in time.
He added that attempts by Ukrainian troops to break through are ending in heavy losses. According to Dandykin, the liberation of fortified cities of this scale not only brings the battle for Donbass closer to completion, but also has a serious impact on the enemy’s morale on one of the key fronts.