Ukrainian forces struggle to hold eastern frontlines: NYT
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Ukrainian forces are struggling to defend the strategically vital city of Kostyantynivka, now partially encircled and under constant Russian drone attacks.
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A Ukrainian serviceman prepares to fire a howitzer toward Russian army positions near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk, on June 14, 2025 (AP)
Ukrainian troops are struggling to hold the city of Kostyantynivka amid Russian drone attacks, as it becomes the focal point in the latest phase of Russia’s summer offensive in eastern Donetsk Republic, The New York Times has reported.
The city, now partially encircled, is a critical gateway to Ukraine’s last major line of defense in Donetsk. Its fall would expose northern cities to Russian drones and move Moscow closer to capturing the entire region.
One injured Ukrainian soldier was left stranded in the forest at night after his unit informed him they couldn’t evacuate him, as the road back to their base had turned into a death trap.
Details of the May operation, shared by soldier Chaosov, an officer from the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, and confirmed by drone footage obtained by NYT, highlight the dire conditions Ukrainian troops are facing.
Russia has now captured over two-thirds of Donetsk, but to seize the rest, it must take the remaining Ukrainian-held urban centers crucial for military logistics. Kostyantynivka stands as the southern gateway to a string of cities forming Ukraine’s last major defense belt in the region.
Russia established 16-km-deep pocket around Ukrainian forces
Russian forces have established a 16-kilometer-deep (10-mile) pocket around the Ukrainian forces, partially surrounding them from the east, south, and west. According to six Ukrainian soldiers and officers in the area, nearly every movement inside this pocket is tracked and targeted by Russian drones 24/7. Troops often remain trapped for weeks without rotation or medical evacuation.
“It’s extremely difficult to deliver supplies, to rotate troops — to do anything, really,” said "Makas," an officer in Ukraine’s 12th Azov Brigade.
With the looming threat of a full-scale Russian attack on Kostyantynivka, Ukraine braces for what could be a prolonged and bloody battle. Soldiers speculate whether Russia will launch a direct offensive, as it did in Bakhmut in 2023, or encircle the city using a pincer strategy, echoing the tactics employed in the capture of Avdiivka.
In either case, Ukrainian troops warn that Russia’s enhanced drone warfare capabilities are giving Moscow an edge not seen in previous battles.
