Kostyantynivka in a “gray zone” as Russian forces step up advances on the strategic Donbas city

Kostyantynivka, in eastern Ukraine, is facing an increasingly fragile situation as the buildup of Russian forces in and around the city increases pressure on the ground. At the same time, the Ukrainian and Russian sides are giving different assessments of control over the area.

Although Ukrainian commanders say the situation is still “under control,” they acknowledge that Russian troops are operating inside the city and that around 130 Russian soldiers may still be present in urban areas. A Ukrainian officer told the BBC that Kostyantynivka is now “practically a gray zone,” where neither side exercises full control.

According to accounts from Ukrainian soldiers, Russian forces entered from the south and have also been spotted on the northern outskirts in an attempt to encircle the city. The fighting in the urban environment is proving especially complicated, as buildings and various structures can serve as shelter for fighters.

The importance of Kostyantynivka is seen as crucial to the defense of the rest of Donbas. If the city falls, it would create an opportunity for Russian forces to advance toward Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, two of Ukraine’s most important strategic centers in the east.

On the other hand, Moscow claims its troops are moving forward and have surrounded Ukrainian units in the area, claims that Kyiv rejects. Brigadier General Oleksandr Bakulin, commander of Ukraine’s 19th Corps, insists that “the situation remains under control” and that “the enemy is not succeeding.”

Despite this, officials and soldiers on the ground acknowledge that the clashes have intensified. Both sides are making extensive use of drones, while efforts to strike supply lines and reconnaissance units are continuing.