Russian military reports capture of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region

Russia's defence ministry announced on Friday that its troops have seized Kostiantynivka, a key city in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, described the city as a major defensive hub within a fortified area that includes Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. He told President Vladimir Putin that the southern group of Russian forces had completed the operation.

Putin, shown in video footage visiting a command post, praised the capture as a significant strategic achievement and highlighted the city's role as a transport and industrial centre in the Donbas. He also said Russian forces would expand security zones in response to increased Ukrainian long-range strikes targeting Russia's oil sector.

The defence ministry posted images on Telegram showing Russian soldiers with national flags near damaged buildings in Kostiantynivka. Gerasimov added that Russian troops were advancing toward Lyman, a town 70 km north that he described as strategically important for further operations.

Russia's northern troops commander, Yevgeny Nikiforov, said his units had not yet fully prevented Ukrainian drone attacks on oil installations, prompting Putin to state that more attacks would require larger security zones in neighboring territories. Nikiforov also reported progress in securing border areas of the Kharkiv and Sumy regions.

Ukraine has not commented on the claim of control over Kostiantynivka. Ukrainian officials have previously said Russian advances have slowed and that Kyiv has reclaimed some territory. Putin dismissed Ukrainian statements as part of an "information campaign" and rejected a recent request from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a direct meeting. Efforts to negotiate a peace settlement remain stalled.