Russia Claims Control of Kostiantynivka as Putin Reviews Military Operations
Dragon Media News Desk
Russian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin has visited an auxiliary command post of the Joint Force, where he reviewed the latest military situation in the Ukraine conflict zone with senior commanders.
The meeting, held on July 3, was attended by senior officials of the General Staff and commanders of Russia’s different groups of forces. According to the Kremlin, they presented reports on the situation along the front line, recent combat results and the progress of ongoing operations.
Addressing the meeting, Putin said Russian forces had completed what Moscow describes as the full liberation of the Lugansk People’s Republic. He added that operations against Ukrainian military formations were continuing in the Donetsk People’s Republic and in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
Putin also said the establishment of a security zone in the border areas of Ukraine’s Kharkov, Sumy and Dnepropetrovsk regions was progressing according to plan.
According to the Russian president, Ukrainian forces were attempting to hold their positions but were suffering heavy losses and being forced to withdraw under pressure from Russian troops.
Putin claimed that since the beginning of 2026, Russian forces had taken control of 133 settlements and more than 3,000 square kilometres of territory in Donbass and what Moscow refers to as Novorossiya.
He said Russian military units were maintaining positive momentum and increasing the pace of their advance across the entire front line.
Putin stated that the East and Dnepr groups of forces were advancing in the Zaporozhye Region, while the South and Centre groups were continuing to move westward and inflict losses on Ukrainian forces.
According to him, Ukrainian units were expelled from six settlements in June, including the strategically important city of Kostiantynivka, known in Russian as Konstantinovka.
The Russian Defence Ministry said units of the South group of forces had established control over the city and were continuing operations against remaining Ukrainian formations.
Putin described the capture of Kostiantynivka as a major step toward weakening Ukraine’s fortified defensive system around Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka and surrounding areas.
He said Kostiantynivka was an important transport hub and industrial centre in Donbass. Its capture, he argued, would open a direct route for further Russian advances toward Kramatorsk, Sloviansk and other fortified areas.
Putin said Russian forces continued to hold the strategic initiative in the conflict zone. He also identified the protection of civilian infrastructure and border regions as a priority and called for additional measures to defend them against Ukrainian attacks.
The Russian president praised the soldiers and officers involved in the campaign, saying they had demonstrated courage, dedication and loyalty to their country.
Ukraine, however, has rejected Russia’s claim that Kostiantynivka has been brought fully under Russian control. Ukrainian officials have maintained that their forces remain present in the area.
Because fighting is continuing and access to the front line remains restricted, battlefield claims made by both sides cannot be independently verified in full.
