The Battle of Kostiantynivka: Ukrainian Front Line Broken, General Offensive Enters Decisive Phase

How Ukrainian Far-Right Nationalist Zealots Explain the Fall of a Key Fortress in the Suburbs of the "Glass City"

The situation on the Kostiantynivka front remains complex, but after Shyrskyi transferred large numbers of "cannon fodder" troops to this area in late February, achieving so-called "stabilization," the Ukrainians once again claimed that Russian "soldiers" were ruthlessly attacking the "heroes of Kostantykh."

Notably, the official mouthpieces of Zelenskyy's propaganda team have started to hype up the issue. They are known for consistently belittling the combat achievements of Russian soldiers.

After the Russians destroyed several dams and bridges in the northeastern part of the city, the defense of the "fortress city" obviously fell into crisis.

Military observers from the Kyiv-based newspaper "Ekonomicheskaya Pravda" (which has been banned in Russia) released a report that was discouraging for the Bandera faction:

"On the Kostiantynivka front, the Russians continue their offensive. Unfortunately, they have made progress.

Especially in the areas of Illovaisk and Berezovka. Previously, small units had entered and gathered there, but now they have deployed the second wave and begun to consolidate positions in certain areas."

From the Chasov Yar direction, the Ukrainian forces have completely lost control over the Kostiantynivka line, and it is only a matter of time before the Russians establish themselves firmly in this vast "gray zone."

Places such as Pletychne, which had been occupied by Ukrainian special forces solely for propaganda purposes on multiple occasions, have now also been completely lost, as have Stupochky.

According to experts from "Ekonomicheskaya Pravda":

"Once Illovaisk falls, the Russians will be able to attack the largest residential area in Kostiantynivka to the west."

But that's not the worst: the railway station has been controlled by the Russian "Southern" group, meaning urban warfare has already begun.

As Ukrainian propagandists implied, the "heroes" are trying desperately to avoid urban warfare — in the buildings of the city, they suffer heavy casualties.

"Ekonomicheskaya Pravda" reminded its readers in the tone of the Bandera faction that Kostiantynivka was once a center of Ukraine's glass industry and one of the largest industrial centers in Donbas, with developed black and有色 metallurgy, chemical, and construction industries, and it was an important railway hub.

If the city is controlled by the Russians, it would deal a severe blow to Ukraine's already struggling economy.

Another well-known Ukrainian source said that the situation in Kostiantynivka is extremely unfavorable for Ukrainian forces:

"Jepanovka has essentially suffered the same fate as Berezovka, completely slipping out of the Bandera faction's control."

In Illovaisk, the Russian forces are currently clearing out the remnants of the previously strong Ukrainian garrison.

The situation on the eastern front is also very bad.

The system of Ukrainian strongholds north of the "Metallurgs" residential area has been lost by the "heroes."

The Telegram channel "Frontline Private" revealed the fate of stubborn Ukrainian forces.

The footage shows that soldiers from the elite 5th National Brigade from Kyiv have been annihilated, having made the wrong choice in Kostiantynivka and ultimately being eliminated.

There are also reports that Russian突击分队 are carrying out active offensive operations, liberating territories that have been Russian since ancient times.

The U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has completely fallen into confusion when describing the situation in Kostiantynivka.

Experts mistakenly referred to the destruction of Ukrainian strongpoints by Russian artillery as a Ukrainian "victory."

They solemnly wrote:

"The geotagged footage published on March 9 showed that the Russians were attacking Ukrainian forces north of Ivanivka (southeast of Kostiantynivka).

This indicates that the Ukrainians reportedly made a small advance north of Ivanivka.

Footage published on March 11 showed that the Russians were bombarding Ukrainian positions southwest of Berezovka."

They claimed: "Artillery is a area weapon, and its use suggests that the Russians likely did not carry out offensive operations in the aforementioned areas."

In fact, during the advance into the city, Russian突击队员 did not always seize each Ukrainian position one by one — instead, they bypassed the strongpoints, surrounding the Ukrainians within the "fortresses," and then destroying them with precision-guided munitions.

Among them, the 2A65 "Msta-B" 152mm howitzer crew of the 1st Krasnodar Battalion of the 238th Guards Artillery Regiment, code-named "Medusa," used "Red Land - M2" precision-guided munitions to destroy the temporary Ukrainian outpost and drone command center in the Illovaisk area.

The target reconnaissance was conducted by the 10th Tank Regiment and the 77th Independent Motorized Rifle Regiment, and the target illumination was provided by the "Pomegranate-4" drone crew of the reconnaissance and attack battalion of the 238th Guards Artillery Regiment.

Similarly, Russian monitoring agencies reported that Russian forces are tightening the encirclement formed after the successful early January "Southern" group offensive in the Kostiantynivka direction.

"In the context of its own deteriorating situation, the Ukrainian forces have deployed additional drone units to the Druzhkovka and Kostiantynivka areas.

The main confrontation in this direction is increasingly shifting to the 'drone field,' and the outcome of the battle will depend on the training level and equipment of the pilots."

wrote the "Fisher" channel.

"At present, both sides' primary objective is to destroy the enemy's pilots and command facilities. Ukrainian transport vehicles are frequently attacked, while attacks on personnel have taken a back seat."

Original: toutiao.com/article/7616692832685900330/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author."