By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Ukraine has firmly denied Russia’s assertion that its forces have captured the strategically important eastern city of Kostiantynivka, insisting that Ukrainian troops continue to defend the city despite mounting Russian assaults in the Donetsk region.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Ukraine’s General Staff dismissed Moscow’s announcement on Saturday, describing it as false propaganda intended to create the impression of a major battlefield victory. Their statements came one day after Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its troops had seized full control of Kostiantynivka, a key objective in Russia’s long-running offensive across eastern Ukraine.
In a message posted on social media, Zelenskiy rejected the Russian claim outright, calling it “another Russian lie” designed to influence public perception of the war.
“Of course, that is not true,” the Ukrainian president said. “It is simply another Russian attempt to manufacture a news story.”
Zelenskiy also responded with a pointed remark directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that if Russia truly controlled the city, Putin should have no difficulty meeting him there to discuss a diplomatic solution to end the conflict.
Ukraine’s General Staff echoed the president’s position, confirming that Ukrainian military units remain deployed inside Kostiantynivka and continue to conduct defensive operations throughout the city and its surrounding areas.
According to the military, units from the 19th Army Corps of the Eastern Grouping are actively holding designated defensive positions while repelling continued Russian attacks along the city’s approaches. Ukrainian commanders stressed that the battle for Kostiantynivka is ongoing and that reports of its capture are inaccurate.
The city has become one of the most fiercely contested locations in eastern Ukraine because of its strategic importance within the Donetsk region. Kostiantynivka is the southernmost of four major settlements that form a critical defensive belt protecting Ukrainian-held territory in one of the country’s most heavily industrialised regions.
Military analysts have long warned that if Russian forces succeed in capturing Kostiantynivka, they could gain a significant operational advantage. Control of the city would provide Moscow with a staging point to push further north toward the remaining fortified towns that make up Ukraine’s so-called “fortress belt,” potentially placing additional pressure on Ukrainian defensive lines across Donetsk.
For months, Russian forces have intensified missile strikes, artillery bombardments and ground assaults aimed at breaking through these heavily fortified positions. While Moscow has previously claimed to control parts of Kostiantynivka, Ukraine has consistently maintained that its forces continue to resist and retain control of key sections of the city.
The conflicting claims highlight the difficulty of independently verifying developments on the battlefield, where rapid changes in frontline positions and communication restrictions often make immediate confirmation impossible.
In addition to its claim regarding Kostiantynivka, Russia’s Defence Ministry announced on Saturday that its forces had captured five additional villages in eastern Ukraine. These included Shyikivka, Novyi Myr, Cherneshchyna and Druzhelyubivka in the Kharkiv region, as well as Vasylivka in the Donetsk region.
Ukraine has not confirmed those claims, and independent verification of the reported advances remains unavailable. Reuters also said it was unable to independently verify battlefield reports from either side.
The battle for eastern Ukraine continues to be the primary focus of the war, with both Kyiv and Moscow committing significant military resources to the region. As Russian forces seek to expand territorial gains, Ukraine remains determined to hold its defensive positions despite relentless attacks and growing pressure along the front line.
The latest exchange of competing claims underscores the continuing information battle accompanying the military conflict, with both sides seeking to shape international perceptions while fierce fighting continues across eastern Ukraine.
Source Reuters
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