Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian General Staff reject Russian claims that Russian forces have captured the eastern city of Kostyantynivka in Donetsk region. Across multiple outlets, Ukrainian officials say the city remains under Ukrainian control, with ongoing defensive operations inside Kostyantynivka and on its approaches. Zelensky also characterizes Russia’s statements as false and part of what he describes as an effort to project battlefield success.
In contrast, reporting from several sources states that Russia’s military leadership told President Vladimir Putin on Friday that Moscow’s forces took control of Kostyantynivka. Additional reporting describes continued fighting and urban combat around the town, with accounts from Ukrainian frontline and even pro-Russian commentators disputing the extent of any Russian control.
Analysts cited by some outlets say that if Russia were to capture Kostyantynivka, it would provide a foothold for further advances north along a defensive line in Donetsk. Separately, France 24 reports Zelensky warns that Russia is preparing another wave of large-scale attacks ahead of an upcoming NATO summit in Turkey, where he is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
