The FT revealed Russia's possible motive behind its attempts to capture Kostiantynivka
Russian troops are continuing their offensive in the Kostiantynivka area of Donetsk Oblast, attempting to encircle the city from three directions. According to the Financial Times, the Kremlin may have strategic objectives related to the capture of this important town.
As the Financial Times reports, the capture of Kostiantynivka is one of the Kremlin’s top priorities in its attempt to establish full control over the Donbas, though the Russian advance has been accompanied by significant losses.
The author notes that the city holds not only strategic but also symbolic significance. During the Soviet era, Kostiantynivka produced the ruby stars for the Kremlin towers and the glass for Lenin’s mausoleum. Today, the city is an important part of Ukraine’s “belt of fortresses,” which also includes Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Lyman. Its loss could intensify pressure on other cities in the region and create conditions for a further Russian offensive.
According to Emil Kastehelmi, co-founder of the Finnish analytical group Black Bird Group, Russia’s main advantage remains its willingness to continue deploying significant human resources despite heavy losses.
“One of Russia’s main advantages over Ukraine is its human resources—the ability to replenish its troops and tolerate very heavy losses,” the expert noted.
According to the publication, about 70,000 people lived in Kostiantynivka before the full-scale war began. Currently, approximately 2,000 residents remain in the city. They live without gas, water, electricity, or adequate medical care, and Russian drones make it difficult to move around the city. Due to constant attacks, the evacuation of civilians and the rotation of military personnel have become significantly more dangerous.
At the same time, the two sides have differing assessments of the situation on the front lines. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Kostiantynivka had been “completely captured,” but Ukrainian authorities deny this.
Despite isolated successes by the Russian army, analysts at the Black Bird Group note that Moscow’s offensive capabilities remain limited due to Ukrainian strikes on rear-area targets and counterattacks. According to their assessments, Russia even suffered net territorial losses in June.
The fighting for Kostiantynivka remains among the fiercest in this sector. The Ukrainian command is attempting to wear down Russian forces as much as possible, while the Kremlin continues to push forward at the cost of significant losses.
Source: Financial Times
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s strikes on Russian fuel infrastructure have already yielded tangible results. According to him, a country that for decades profited from oil and fuel exports is now forced to seek opportunities to import energy resources itself.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has backed the idea of creating a network of small oil refineries across the country to increase fuel supplies to the domestic market.
