According to some military personnel, at first glance, Kostyantynivka looks quite calm and has almost no visible damage. However, the city is already completely under the control of enemy fiber-optic FPV drones. The military personnel note that the “threads” of these drones are stretched throughout the city, making any movement very risky.
To counter the aerial threat, mobile groups with portable air defense systems occasionally drive through the streets at high speed. The fighters of these groups hold their weapons pointed skyward to repel drone attacks. Despite the danger, about 9,000 civilians may still remain in the city.
Meanwhile, The New York Times suggests that Ukraine is preparing for a possible decisive Russian offensive on Kostyantynivka, although the battle itself could drag on for months. The article compares two potential scenarios: a frontal attack similar to the assault on Bakhmut in 2023, or an attempt to encircle from the flanks in order to force Ukrainian forces to retreat, as was the case during the capture of Avdiivka.
Currently, Russian troops are advancing towards Kostyantynivka from three sides: from the north — from Chasiv Yar, from the southeast — from Toretsk, and from the south — along the highway directly to the city. Is this situation threatening?
For the military at the front — yes, because they have to disperse their forces in several directions at once. For Kostyantynivka itself — no, because the enemy is moving slowly: in over a month, in some areas, they have advanced only 5-6 km, with fluctuations in positions back and forth. If the pace continues, the enemy could reach the city in about three months. Over the past week, Ukrainian forces have stopped the enemy’s offensive.
Donetsk direction, July 10, 2025.
«Babel'»
- Currently, the enemy has concentrated most of its forces near the villages of Yablunivka and Oleksandro-Kalynove. From Yablunivka to Kostyantynivka is a little more than 5 kilometers, so the enemy is pressing from the flanks and massively using drones of various types, trying to break through the defenses.
- The fighting for Yablunivka has been going on for several weeks. According to the fighters of the “Tavr” battalion of the Lyut” assault brigade of the National Police, at the end of June they had to hold the village for more than 12 days under constant mortar fire and assaults. Russian units repeatedly tried to break through, sometimes came close, and close combat continued. Despite this, the Ukrainian military is holding its positions and repelling attacks to this day.
- If the enemy breaks through the defenses in this area, he will have room for maneuver and will be able to launch an offensive directly on Kostyantynivka. Yablunivka is a key stronghold — it covers the approach to the T-0504 highway from another direction. Therefore, the main thing now is to hold these positions, bring up reserves, and maximally camouflage the equipment from enemy drones.
- In the area of Bila Hora, fire exhaustion continues — the enemy constantly uses barrel artillery, “Grad” rocket systems and FPV drones. Strikes are not carried out randomly, but aimed — at shelters, equipment and observation posts. Infantry assaults are now rare, but Russian troops from time to time try to enter in small groups from the flanks to gain a foothold in the nearest landings.
Fighters of the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov", which performs combat missions in the Toretsk direction.
12 бригада спеціального призначення «Азов»
- According to the fighters of the 28th Motorized Rifle Brigade, after several months of assaults by small groups, the Russians began to break through to Ukrainian positions with several tanks and infantry. The tanks are heavily armored — they were turned into mobile bunkers. But Ukrainian drones manage to destroy them even in the “green zone”. At the same time, as noted in the 12th “Azov” Brigade, the enemy is significantly helped by the built-up area in this area — with numerous basements where he can hide and move unnoticed.
- Among other strategic targets is the village of Petrivka. Russian troops have probably already approached it and may soon completely capture it. Petrivka is located on the eastern flank of the Ukrainian defense and opens the way to the rear roads in the direction of Kostyantynivka.
- In addition, the enemy is trying to resume offensive operations in the direction of Stepanivka, another settlement in the southern direction. In general, the situation is becoming more complicated from both the east and the south.
- After regrouping from the Chasiv Yar side, the enemy conducts infantry assaults. The most active fighting is in the village of Stupochky, which opens the way to Predtechyne, which is less than 5 kilometers from Kostyantynivka. Russian troops gathered considerable forces there in the spring, but were able to advance only slightly — the situation is constantly changing, the fighting continues.