Photo: 4th Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo / Facebook
Near Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region, where heavy fighting is ongoing, Ukrainian forces are not encircled, according to Oleksandr Bakulin, commander of the 19th Army Corps, in a comment to Ukrinform.
He stated that Ukrainian units continue to hold their positions and are not surrounded. Russian forces are mainly operating in small infantry groups, attempting to infiltrate between Ukrainian defensive lines. In some cases, they also use motorcycles to quickly approach Ukrainian positions. However, he emphasized that these attempts have not led to meaningful gains, as Ukrainian troops are actively disrupting and repelling such assaults.
Bakulin added that around 130 Russian soldiers have been identified in the Kostiantynivka area, but their locations are under constant fire control and are being targeted by Ukrainian forces.
At the same time, earlier assessments from Ukrainian military personnel indicated that the situation around the city remains highly tense, with Russian forces increasing pressure on nearby settlements and expanding their zone of influence in adjacent areas. This creates additional risks for the defense of Kostiantynivka, although the frontline remains contested rather than collapsed.
In summary: Ukrainian forces are not encircled, but the situation in the area remains active, unstable, and militarily challenging.
