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Russian forces have transformed Kostiantynivka into one of the most dangerous frontline zones in eastern Ukraine, conducting relentless attacks that have killed civilians and reduced much of the city to rubble as Moscow attempts to break through Ukrainian defensive lines.
The city of Donetsk Oblast has endured 26 separate Russian attacks in the past 24 hours alone, targeting Kostiantynivka and surrounding settlements including Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, and Shcherbynivka, according to Ukrainian military reports. The assault operations continue around the clock, with Russian troops using small infantry groups supported by heavily armored vehicles to probe Ukrainian fortifications that withstand up to 300 shellings daily from mortars, artillery, and drones.
Recent strikes killed one resident on Dec. 26 and injured three others, adding to a mounting civilian death toll in a city where Russian forces have begun what local officials describe as targeted "safari" attacks on residents and evacuation volunteers.
City Military Administration head Serhii Horbunov stated that occupiers are conducting deliberate strikes against civilians, with law enforcement officials warning there are no safe places remaining within the community.
The once-thriving industrial center of nearly 80,000 people has collapsed to approximately 6,300 residents who remain despite the absence of gas, water, and electricity. The population exodus accelerated throughout 2025, dropping from 15,000 in February to 8,500 by July as Russian bombardment intensified.
Ukrainian military spokesperson Dmytro Zinyuk said Russian forces are "constantly, literally 24/7, attempting to assault our positions, including with small infantry groups and using motorized equipment." The relentless pressure reflects Moscow's determination to capture the strategically important city, which sits at the intersection of critical supply highways including the H-32 route connecting to Pokrovsk.
Kostiantynivka's location makes it a key objective in Russia's broader eastern Ukraine campaign. The city controls access to supply routes serving other Donetsk Oblast cities including Chasiv Yar, where Ukrainian forces from the 24th Brigade are fighting to prevent further Russian advances into the Donbas region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed at a Dec. 20 news conference that his forces controlled at least half of Kostiantynivka, though independent analysis contradicts this assertion.
The Institute for the Study of War noted that even Russian military bloggers claimed their forces had seized a maximum of approximately 11 percent of the city, while Ukrainian officials dismissed Moscow's territorial claims as propaganda that does not correspond to reality.
The city's hospital was destroyed in Sept. 2025, leaving virtually no medical facilities to treat wounded civilians and soldiers. The local State Emergency Service unit evacuated weeks earlier after their base suffered repeated airstrikes, further diminishing emergency response capabilities.
September proved particularly deadly, with Russian strikes on September 13 killing four residents and wounding 14 others while damaging administrative and residential buildings. Earlier attacks on September 3 using FPV drones, artillery, and FAB-250 air bombs caused widespread infrastructure damage and civilian casualties.
Kostiantynivka developed during the Soviet era into Ukraine's glass-making capital and a major center for steel, zinc smelting, and chemical manufacturing. The city's industrial heritage stretches back to the mid-19th century, when it grew around railway connections and abundant natural resources that facilitated rapid expansion.
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