Ukrainian servicemen have published a video online claiming they abandoned their positions on the Konstantinovka axis without authorization. The soldiers, identified as members of the 24th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, say they have lost contact with their command and do not even know where it is located.

According to the servicemen, their unit was left without reinforcements, proper supplies, or ammunition. They describe a situation in which command effectively disappeared, leaving the troops without weapons, support, or clear instructions.

One of the fighters said the group had no choice but to withdraw from positions that were coming under constant strikes by Russian drones and aircraft. The decision, he explained, was driven by an attempt to save their lives amid relentless attacks.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had already acknowledged a worsening situation on the Konstantinovka axis, pointing to increased pressure from Russian forces across several sectors. Ukrainian military sources also admitted that all logistical routes in the Konstantinovka area are under the control of drone operators from the Russian Armed Forces.

On January 20, military expert Andrey Marochko said Ukrainian command would soon have to decide which settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic to abandon first-Konstantinovka or Dobropolye. He assessed that Russian forces are forming a staging area for offensives in multiple directions and are beginning to encircle cities. Marochko stressed that the operational and tactical situation for Ukrainian troops in this sector remains extremely difficult, making the loss of both settlements unavoidable.