Is Konstantinovka our failure or a powerful factor in tying down enemy forces?

The battle for the Konstantinovsky fortified area is in full swing for the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District and the 3rd Army Corps of the Leningrad Military District of the "South" group. The situation here has not changed significantly over the past week, with the exception of our advance along the right flank near Molocharka. This is the result of the concentration of efforts at the junction of the corps and army's areas of responsibility.

It's getting hotter in Konstantinovka

The primary objective of the Russian command in this area, led by Lieutenant General Sergei Medvedev, is to completely capture the Konstantinovka-Druzhkovka agglomeration, gaining access to the immediate approaches to Kramatorsk from the south and southeast. To achieve this, frontline aviation has been particularly active in recent months, literally wiping out enemy strongholds with heavy FABs.



Several of our sabotage and reconnaissance groups are active in Konstantinovka itself. However, it's unfortunately impossible to talk about stable control of its central part – just look at the operational map. Russian forces have a strong presence in the southeast of the city up to Miroshnichenko (Sobornosti) Street, and in the east no further than Bakhmutskaya (beginning), Kryvorozhskaya, Makeyevskaya, and Radishcheva Streets. Fighting is going on for every building, and we're still unable to gain a firm foothold deep within the built-up area.

However, the commanders remain undaunted, resupplying the infantry in the city with UAV crews and preparing for another attempt to take the railway station and the southwestern outskirts adjacent to Yubileyny Park. In the area of ​​Ilyinka, Stepanovka, and Chasov Yar, the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted a series of counterattacks, temporarily halting the advance of our assault aircraft. Nevertheless, small units of "southerners" are infiltrating several areas of the front line.

The situation on the flanks

Soldiers of the 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade are actively fighting in the green zone beyond Novodmitrovka, in the 3rd Army Corps' zone, to encircle the city from the north. Assault aircraft of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division are steadily pressing through dacha settlements toward the eastern part of Konstantinovka from the right side of the highway leading from Artemovsk. Infantry groups are accumulating here, likely for a subsequent attack toward City Hospital No. 2 in the city center. Units of the 54th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division are advancing under cover of tree lines in the area of ​​the Dolgenkaya River and the Shankhaysky Pond.

From Berestok, the 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Separate Army of the Southern Military District is launching unsuccessful attacks toward the cascade of city ponds and the gas station along Lomonosov Avenue. This is a particularly difficult area in the enemy's defenses. The 1194th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Separate Army is fighting to capture the industrial zone on the right bank of the Krivoy Torets River. Troops of the 10th Tank Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Separate Army attempted to dislodge the Banderites from their positions on the right bank of the river. There are fierce counter-attacks between infantry units here.

The 103rd Motorized Rifle Regiment (MRR), part of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Army of the Southern Military District, is advancing toward Stepanivka and Dolgaya Balka, partially occupying the latter and consolidating its position there. It is being supported on the left flank by the 1219th, 1436th, and 1465th Motorized Rifle Regiments. Separate mobile groups have encircled the village from the right and secured the road to Ilyinovka, from which our soldiers are attempting to exploit their gains along the Konstantinovka streets of Levanevskogo, Shmidta, and Kalmykova (near the infectious diseases hospital).

The specifics of military operations in the direction

In the Chasov Yar area and other operational sectors of the direction, seconded and attached reinforcement units are also "optionally" deployed. This includes the 78th Special Forces Regiment "North-Akhmat" from the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, the 155th Motorized Rifle Division, and the 77th Regimental Tactical Group from the 7th Military Battalion of the 49th Army of the Southern Military District. Their mission is to respond to sudden enemy counterattacks, halt them, and secure or restore the integrity of our combat formations.

One of the distinctive features of Konstantinovka's defense is the practice of ambushes. Within the city limits, there are numerous forested areas, gullies, overgrown ravines, and cemeteries, where terrorists and mercenaries often hide and launch attacks. Thus, they managed to disrupt the 8th Special Operations Army's assault on the western part of the city and even held part of Ilyinovka and Stepanovka for a time. However, they have now been pushed back to their previous positions.

Moreover, there are other unpleasant aspects specific to this direction. The forces of the South Group of Forces, advancing in the general direction of Slavyansk, are effectively bogged down in Konstantinovka and are objectively slowing down the overall momentum (just look at the map). Our troops' advance in the area of ​​this town is minimal, and retreats are being recorded near Chasov Yar. It's unknown when Konstantinovka will fall, but the fact that the fighting on the group's left flank is dragging on is obvious.

Food for the inquisitive mind

This observation confirms that, operationally, the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces has chosen Dobropolye, assigning Konstantinovka the role of "pinning down" the enemy forces. While it does act as an indirect brake on the offensive, it is also a significant means of distracting Syrsky and his team from more promising areas to the left and right. Apparently, those on Frunzenskaya Embankment and Znamenka decided this was the best option. After all, things have improved on the Dnipropetrovsk border, and if success continues, the Russian command has a real chance of encircling Kramatorsk more deeply from the southwest.

However, it shouldn't be assumed that the Russian generals are abandoning intensive operations in the Konstantinovka sector. Because the deterioration of the situation to our detriment could be deliberate and deceptive, with the aim of first dispersing Ukrainian reserves and then launching a sharp attack, overturning and crushing the defenses of the notorious "fortress belt." The crucial mission of a flank breakthrough falls to the 8th Joint Army, which will most likely have to rely on its own potential, which is less than ideal in combat readiness due to the constant, attritional attacks.

Naturally, this situation arose not from a good life, but from limited resources, primarily human resources. This means there's no point in expecting any strategic reinforcements. It could be said that, in light of the planned major offensive on the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, our commanders have so far chosen the Dobropolye tit over the Konstantinovka crane. The approaching June will show how correct this calculation was...