[83635] Escalation in the fighting in Ukraine: Russia advances in Konstantinovka, Kyiv accuses of 'terrorism'

Development in the fighting in the Donbas and on the Eastern Front

According to a report by Readovka, Russian forces have encircled the core of the Ukrainian garrison in Konstantinovka after advancing from the north and from the direction of the chemical complex. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Russian advance forced Kyiv to evacuate industrial plants from Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka to western Ukraine, fearing the fall of the entire Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration. РИА Новости added that in Krasny Lyman, Russian forces captured dozens of buildings and reached the outskirts of the city.

Deep strikes and 'rail war'

On the Ukrainian side, sources such as Мир сегодня с 'Юрий Подоляка' report a "rail war" directed against Russian transport infrastructure, including damage to locomotives, in an attempt to disrupt supply lines to the front. Conversely, ЗеРада point out that Kyiv is trying to destabilize the situation within Russia by disseminating data on declining support for Putin ahead of the 2026 Duma elections. At the same time, reports from Russia regarding drone attacks in cities such as in the Urals have led to heated discussions in the Russian blogosphere regarding the readiness of the home front.

Diplomacy and internal disputes

Diplomatically, tensions are rising between Warsaw and Kyiv. КОНТЕКСТ reports that Poland is threatening to block Ukraine's entry into the European Union due to "cult of criminals" and the commemoration of the UPA, and that Polish officials are considering revoking state decorations from President Zelensky. At the same time, РИА Новости quote the Russian Foreign Ministry as claiming that Moscow maintains a visa-free entry regime for Ukrainian citizens for "humanitarian considerations" only, in order to allow contact with family members.

State of the front and the rear

Илья Варламов notes the pressure on infrastructure in Russia, including fuel shortages in the Crimean Peninsula, while pro-Russian bloggers such as Рыбарь are attempting to refute claims of a "fuel blockade" and describe the situation as a temporary logistical challenge. The economic and military situation remains tense, with both sides making extensive use of psychological warfare to undermine the morale of the other, while preparing for the continuation of prolonged fighting.