In the middle of the night, explosions shatter the silence over Konstantynówka. Heavy glide bombs fall, buildings shake, windows rattle. Okay. 2 thousand civilians are still hiding in this besieged town in the Donetsk Oblast. Are imprisoned.
Aerial photos of the Ukrainian border guard unit “Feniks” show the scale of the attacks. The city looks like a ruin. Now the situation may get even worse: Konstantynówka is in danger complete lap.
— Konstantinivka is currently in a half-encirclement because the enemy has advanced in the area of the city of Chasiv Yar and the village of Berestek, reports Serhiy Jarij, commander of the drone battalion of the 28th Mechanized Brigade.
The Russian army is trying to take control of two main supply routes leading to the city. — Therefore, the logistical situation is very tense: evacuations, supplies and transfer of infantry to Konstantynówka are extremely difficult – emphasizes Jaryj.
Ukrainian operational maps confirm that the industrial site is in ruins surrounded on three sides.
The backbone of the Ukrainian defense
Since May 4, Vladimir Putin's troops have been attacking the outskirts of Konstantynówka and are systematically approaching. Observers fear that the city may fall in the summer. Of the larger centers in the Donetsk Oblast, only Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkivka would remain under Ukrainian control.
This would be a huge blow for Kiev: Konstantynivka, along with Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, is one of the three most important fortified metropolises in Donbas. These are not just points on the map – they constitute the backbone of Ukrainian defense in the areas still held in the region. Losing one of these cities might shake the entire front line.
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Moreover, the evacuation from Konstantynówka is huge risk — people can only escape on foot through one route, protected only by a leaky security net against drone attacks.
Thousands of civilians
There are still 180,000 people in the Donetsk region, in areas controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. 700 civilians, including 11,000 224 children. Since the beginning of the invasion of Putin's forces, according to Ukrainian data, over 1.3 million people have already been evacuated. The region remains under constant fire from Russian occupation forces.
The Kiev authorities recently announced that they had succeeded stop the Russian advance and regain some of the land. However, even Ukrainian maps show the gradual, although slower than in winter, movement of Russian troops.
At the same time, Ukraine is putting increasing pressure on Russia. At least 25 Russian regions (not counting the occupied territories of Ukraine) are struggling with gasoline shortages and disruptions in fuel supplies due to Ukrainian attacks on oil infrastructure, “7×7” magazine calculated.
Ukraine seized the moment
According to the Institute for War Studies, Putin's army is sending not soldiers, but supplies, mechanics and other non-infantry personnel to the town of Lyman to attack because it is unable to provide the front line with enough infantry to carry out the attacks.
In 2026, Moscow's forces are losing on average at the front approx. 9 thousand killed per monthor approximately 300 people a day – calculated by Janis Kluge, an expert at the German Institute of International and Security Affairs, based on budget data from Russian regions.
Moreover, the economy is slowing down and the state budget is losing balance. Recently, government representatives have been alarming and warning Putin about the huge hole threatening the budget. The reason is the costs of war. The Russian president does not want to accept this and is looking for ways to cut spending elsewhere.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
