Russian forces approach Kostiantynivka fortress belt in eastern Ukraine

On Saturday, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's chief military official, reported that Russian forces are making progress towards Kostiantynivka in the eastern Donetsk region. This city, along with others, is part of a well-defended "fortress belt" established by Ukrainian defenses. Syrskyi noted on social media that Ukrainian troops are successfully countering ongoing Russian efforts to secure a presence on the city's outskirts through infiltration tactics and counter-sabotage operations. According to the DeepState battlefield mapping project, Russian troops currently control an area approximately one kilometer (0.6 mile) from Kostiantynivka's southern edge, with parts of southeastern Kostiantynivka classified as a grey zone. On Wednesday, Russia's defense ministry announced the capture of Novodmytrivka, located just north of Kostiantynivka. In April, Moscow's top general Valery Gerasimov stated that advancements were being made in both the northern and southern sectors of the city.