Russian Troops Push Into Kostyantynivka Amid Donbas Offensive
Russian troops have entered Kostyantynivka in Donetsk, securing positions and advancing toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Fighting continues in key directions.
Russian forces have reportedly entered the administrative boundaries of Kostyantynivka, a key city in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), according to multiple military correspondents covering the situation on the ground.
War correspondent Semyon Pegov, reporting via his WarGonzo Telegram channel, stated that fighting is now underway within the city itself. His account is echoed by journalist Yevgeny Lisitsyn and further supported by the Telegram channel Condottiero, which noted that Russian troops advanced into the city from the direction of the nearby settlement of Predtechyne. Once inside, the units reportedly established footholds and began bringing in additional reserves to reinforce their positions.
At the same time, Russian forces are said to be pushing forward on multiple fronts in the area. Reports indicate continued assaults toward the villages of Pleshcheevka and Nelepivka, with additional advances along the railway corridor near the settlement of Aleksandro-Shultyne.
Commenting on the developments, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Ivannikov, a senior advisor to the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, suggested that the capture of Kostyantynivka could mark a pivotal moment in the broader effort to gain full control of the DPR.
Ivannikov recalled that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky once referred to Kostyantynivka as a «fortress city," underlining its symbolic and strategic importance. He argued that securing the city would deal a significant blow to Ukrainian messaging and morale, calling it one of the most critical strongholds of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the region.
According to Ivannikov, control over Kostyantynivka would open the way to major urban centers such as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. He also pointed to the nearby city of Druzhkivka, home to key industrial infrastructure and a major railway junction that links Donbas to Kharkiv and Dnipro.
He concluded that ongoing battles for Kostyantynivka could soon lead to what he described as a decisive victory for Russian forces in the Donbas region.