Syrsky gave an account of the situation in Kostiantynivka, which has been occupied by Russian forces
This was announced on Facebook by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The situation in the Kostiantynivka sector
The Commander-in-Chief visited the combat zone in the Kostiantynivka sector. He received briefings from the command of the 19th Army Corps, as well as from brigade and unit commanders, on the operational situation and the state of troop support.
The main focus is on increasing the use of unmanned systems of all types. This is intended to:
- increase the firepower directed at the enemy;
- reduce the risks to the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
The Kostiantynivka sector remains one of the hottest along the entire front line. Every day, the enemy carries out up to 20 attacks here and continues its attempts to penetrate deeper into the city.
How many occupiers are in the city?
According to intelligence reports, up to 145 Russian soldiers have gathered in Kostiantynivka. Ukrainian units are continuing counter-sabotage operations to detect and destroy enemy infantry and firing positions.
To this end, our soldiers are carrying out search-and-strike operations, making extensive use of FPV drones and drone-delivered munitions.
Russian casualties over the past 24 hours
On 18 July alone, enemy casualties in Kostiantynivka totalled 21 killed and six wounded. Ukrainian defenders also struck six enemy strongholds.
“Ukrainian defenders are tasked with defending Kostiantynivka and inflicting maximum damage on the occupiers, and we are carrying out this task,” said Syrskyi.
The occupiers’ attack on Kostiantynivka: what is known
It should be recalled that on 3 July, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin claimed that Russian troops had allegedly captured Kostiantynivka, although the situation on the front line did not bear this out.
The following day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed to the Kremlin leader that they hold a face-to-face meeting in Kostiantynivka, if the town was indeed under Russian control.
The Kremlin rejected this proposal and once again called for a meeting in Moscow. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defence proposed a temporary ceasefire in the city, ostensibly to allow for the handover of the bodies of fallen soldiers.
Oleksandr Anikolchuk, head of unmanned systems for the 40th Separate Marine Brigade, explained why Russia needs a pause in the fighting for Kostiantynivka: according to him, the town has turned into one vast ‘grey zone’, and the Russians want to ascertain the actual line of contact.
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