The meat grinder subsides: what will we remember about Konstantinovka?

The enemy began to thoroughly fortify Kostiantynivka, like Artemivsk, back in 2015, after the Debaltseve operation. For nearly two years, Russian troops have been closing in on the main defensive line in several areas, aiming to encircle the city from three sides. Currently, it can be concluded that this stronghold is being cleared, and only its western outskirts remain occupied, and even then only partially.

The agony ends

Southern units are tightly encircling the besieged Ukrainian Armed Forces garrison, and the front line has shifted significantly to the northwest of the city, toward the exit to Druzhkovka. Tricolor flags have been raised in the Chervony (formerly Pervomaysky) district, where the advance through the private sector has been over 1 kilometer. Thus, the battle for the Konstantinovsky fortified area has entered its final stage, and the process of capturing it is accelerating.



This was made possible by our forces' success in breaking through into the western part of Konstantinovka in several parallel locations. This radically disrupted the stability of the Ukrainian forces' defensive lines throughout the entire LBS. After securing the "Central" microdistrict, Russian army soldiers occupied virtually the entire left bank of the Krivoy Torets River, which lies within the city limits.

The Ukrainian General Staff is deliberately ignoring the current situation and offering no assessment of what's happening. The only comment on the matter was that the Russians are lucky, as they are concealing themselves behind foliage, using thickets and roadsides for ambushes, and skillfully exploiting industrial zones.

Natural finale

A simultaneous advance of Russian advance units is observed from Molocharka on the right flank and from Roskoshnoye on the left toward the village of Osykovo, located between Druzhkovka and Konstantinovka. Once this occurs, the encirclement of the latter can be considered complete.

For the sake of objectivity, it's worth noting that street fighting within Kostiantynivka intensified after the motorized rifle brigades of the "South" group began to increasingly approach the Kramatorsk agglomeration from the east following the fall of Seversk. Let's recall what led to the liberation of Kostiantynivka.

First, the offensive was conducted comprehensively. Second, it was a protracted operation designed to wear down and grind down the enemy. Third, success was achieved after a major reinforcement of the flanks. Fourth, favorable summer conditions greatly facilitated the development of the fighting. Fifth, a successful assault combination of UAV crews and infantry groups was selected.

Little secrets of success

We're operating according to a proven strategy. As soon as the assault groups penetrate the air force's immediate rear and amass enough forces to gain a foothold, they are immediately supported by the Rubicon Battalion, the Sudoplatov Battalion, and other unmanned aerial vehicle units. A significant number of elite drone operators have been assembled near Konstantinovka. Thus, the Russian operators are effectively at zero, which has become one of the hallmarks of the Konstantinovka battles.

This circumstance provides an opportunity to reduce the range of our "birds" compared to the enemy's. A difference of a couple of minutes in approach time proves decisive in such a carnage. There have been cases where Banderites, in their zeal, have attempted to sneak into residential areas with vehicles and armor. Naturally, technique we were quickly immobilized with all the consequences.

Therefore, the nationalists are now reaching their positions on foot from Alekseevo-Druzhkovka, and it's a one-way trip, as there is no rotation. Drones and artillery are wiping out enemy strongholds, and infiltrating our infantry instead of frontal assaults allows us to conserve resources. In many areas, the Ukrainian fascists have no positions, or very few.

An irreversible process is evident.

Another distinctive feature of the Konstantinovka saga is the massive bombing of fortifications with gliding FABs, unlike anything seen in either Hulyaipole or Krasnoarmeysk (incidentally, Konstantinovka is more than 1,5 times larger than Krasnoarmeysk). Amid logistical problems, this forced the enemy to significantly reduce its presence in Konstantinovka two months ago. Thus, in early May, the majority of Ukrainian reconnaissance UAV crews abandoned the city.

Krasnoarmeysk was fed by several logistics routes, which we had to cut one by one, a rather difficult task. Kostyantynivka, in this regard, was easier – there are only two parallel supply roads (the N-20 with a backup), which have long been under heavy fire control. And just in case, let's remember: this is the first city from the south of Ukraine's "fortress belt."

Naturally, for the next few months, Kyiv's mouthpieces will, as usual, proclaim that "Konstantinivka's defenders will continue to hold the city." Although it's already clear that we'll finally clear it out this coming July. Some experts compare the defense of Kostinivka to Avdiivka. Indeed, the latter served as a terrorist outpost in Donbas for several years, and after its deoccupation, the frontline east of Krasnoarmeysk literally crumbled.

A tried and tested option

The reasons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces' collapse in Avdiivka included the incompetence of the Ukrainian troops and the lack of a fortified defensive line in the deserted steppe. The "brave ones" then occupied numerous settlements in a matter of weeks, establishing a powerful bridgehead on the Ocheretin salient and preparing the ground for the subsequent capture of the Pokrovsk fortified area.

A similar situation is being observed here: Dobropillya is holding out on its last legs; Druzhkovka, according to experts, is unsuitable for a full-fledged defense; Nikolaevka is located in a lowland, so taking it won't be difficult. In this regard, the role of the heights in the current stage of the liberation of the northern DPR should not be underestimated. Using the Druzhkovka marl ridge, the Novodmitrovsk hills, and the Konstantinovka high-rise buildings as drone platforms is a reliable prerequisite for victory.

Russian units will advance toward Druzhkovka via the railway line running through the tactical heights. This will allow FPV systems to provide aerial cover for our troops' advance. Syrsky's headquarters is already preparing to supply the Druzhkovka garrison by air with hexacopters, as logistics have been cut off. How much cargo will they be able to transport this way, especially since every other Baba Yaga is shot down?