Russians want to semi-encircle Ukrainian positions near Konstantinovka; "bag" of enemy around city
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In the direction of Kostyantynivka, Russian occupiers are deploying small infantry groups in an effort to bypass Ukrainian defensive lines and establish conditions for a semi-encirclement of the city. Vitaliy Pysetskyi, a senior sergeant from the 93rd Kolodny Yar Brigade, reported that while the enemy previously focused on exploiting successes from Kostyantynivka, their current strategy has shifted toward penetrating the areas held by the 93rd Brigade and the First Azov Corps. These Russian units are attempting to infiltrate and move northward along the former Druzhkivka-Shakhtar-Pokrovsk highway, aiming to seize heights that could facilitate an advance toward Druzhkivka and disrupt Ukrainian logistics. Favorable weather conditions and dense vegetation are currently aiding the occupiers in moving covertly and concentrating their forces to execute this maneuver.
Despite these efforts, Ukrainian defenders remain vigilant in identifying and engaging these enemy groups with fire. However, the operational environment poses significant challenges for the Ukrainian side, particularly regarding logistics and troop movement. Due to the constant threat of air strikes and surveillance by Russian drones, infantrymen are forced to cover distances exceeding six kilometers, sometimes reaching up to twenty, on foot while moving from one cover to another. This arduous journey can take several days as soldiers navigate routes monitored for drone ambushes and fiber-optic drones that often land along these paths waiting for targets. Consequently, the ability of Ukrainian forces to reinforce positions or resupply is severely hampered by this dangerous transit situation.
The broader strategic context reveals that the Russian command continues to adhere to its announced plan to seize the entire Donetsk region and the Kramatorsk-Kostyantynivka agglomeration by the end of the year. To support this objective, there has been a marked increase in attacks on rear cities within the Donetsk region, including strikes on Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Druzhkivka, and other locations targeting logistics hubs and personnel concentrations. Analysts from Deep State note that after capturing Ilionivka, Russian troops used it as a foothold to penetrate Kostyantynivka and are now expanding their zone of control westward. This expansion is designed to enlarge the "pocket" around Kostyantynivka, making the city increasingly vulnerable as the most active military operations continue in this sector.
Read the full video transcript
In the Kostyantynivka direction, small
infantry groups of the occupiers are
trying to bypass Ukrainian positions and
create conditions for semi-encirclement.
This was reported by Senior Sergeant
Vitaliy Pysetskyi, StoKit of the 93rd
Kolodny Yar Brigade, as reported by
Suspilne. According to him, the
occupiers continue to operate in groups
of two, attempting to penetrate the
defensive lines. While previously the
enemy was trying to exploit its success
from the direction of Kostyantynivka,
now the focus has shifted more to these
two units, the 93rd Brigade and the
First Azov Corps. The enemy is
attempting to penetrate, infiltrate,
bypass the brigade's area of
responsibility, and advance north,
creating the preconditions for a
possible semi-encirclement of the
brigade's area of responsibility, StoKit
said. At the same time, he said,
Ukrainian defenders are identifying such
groups and engaging them with fire.
However, favorable weather conditions
and vegetation are currently helping the
occupiers move covertly and build up
their forces. According to Pysetskyi,
the Russians are attempting to bypass
the brigade's defensive area in the
direction of the former
Druzhkivka-Shakhtar-Pokrovsk
highway. The occupiers believe that
reaching the heights along this road
could create conditions for an advance
toward Druzhkivka and complicate
Ukrainian logistics. The military man
noted that the Russian command continues
to act in accordance with its announced
plan to seize the entire Donetsk region
and the Kramatorsk-Kostyantynivka
agglomeration by the end of the year. He
also emphasized the increase in the
number of attacks on rear cities in the
Donetsk region. The enemy is
intensifying its efforts to strike at
logistics [music] and personnel
concentrations. The number of strikes on
cities such as Kramatorsk, Sloviansk,
Druzhkivka, and elsewhere has increased.
The senior sergeant also spoke about the
challenging logistics situation on the
front lines.
Due to the constant threat of air
strikes, Ukrainian soldiers are forced
to reach their positions on foot,
covering many kilometers under the
surveillance of Russian drones. The
distance is over 6 km, sometimes as long
as 15 or 20. Therefore, it can take
several days for an infantryman to reach
his position, moving from cover to
cover. The infantry's advance and
movement routes are monitored to detect
drones, drone ambushes, and so-called
fiber-optic drones, which often land
along such routes and wait for a target,
he said. Russian occupiers are
attempting to capture Kostyantynivka in
the Donetsk region. Enemy troops are
actively infiltrating the city, hiding
in basements and multi-story buildings,
according to Deep State analysts. It is
noted that it is around Kostyantynivka
that the most active military operations
are taking place. After capturing
Ilionivka, which the Russians are using
to penetrate the city,
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>> the enemy began expanding its zone of
control, advancing westward to enlarge
the pocket around Kostyantynivka,
analysts [music] said.
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