Russia Moves to Encircle Kostiantynivka as Battle for Ukraine’s Last Donbas Strongholds Intensifies
Russian forces are intensifying efforts to encircle the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, a strategic gateway to the last major Ukrainian-held urban centres in Donbas, as both sides adapt to a battlefield increasingly dominated by drones and small-unit tactics.
Accounts from Ukrainian soldiers operating in the area suggest that Moscow's forces have expanded their presence on the outskirts of the city and are attempting to infiltrate deeper into urban areas rather than relying on large-scale mechanised assaults.
Russia's Defence Ministry claims its troops are advancing from the south-west and have captured several nearby settlements, part of a broader attempt to outflank Kostiantynivka and threaten the logistical routes linking the city with Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Ukrainian military commanders reject Russian claims that Ukrainian units have been surrounded, insisting the situation remains under control.
Yet interviews with frontline troops paint a more complicated picture. Several soldiers described Kostiantynivka as increasingly resembling a "grey zone" where neither side exercises complete control. Russian assault groups have reportedly been detected in multiple districts, including areas near the northern exit toward Druzhkivka.
According to Ukrainian operators, Russian troops are increasingly advancing in pairs or small groups, moving between buildings, basements and tree lines to avoid detection by drones. The tactic reflects a wider evolution of the war, where the constant presence of unmanned aerial vehicles has made large troop movements highly vulnerable.
The approach is slow but persistent. Ukrainian soldiers report that Russian infantry sometimes advances only tens of metres per day, gradually establishing positions inside urban areas while forcing defenders to expend resources locating and eliminating small infiltration teams.
Drone warfare has become the defining element of the battle. Ukrainian units continue to rely heavily on unmanned systems to detect and destroy advancing troops, conducting dozens of sorties daily. However, soldiers interviewed by the BBC said Russian operators are increasingly targeting Ukrainian drone crews themselves, seeking to blind defenders before launching further assaults.
The contest between opposing drone units is emerging as one of the most important factors shaping the battlefield. Analysts note that whichever side secures a technological and operational advantage in drone warfare gains a disproportionate ability to disrupt logistics, identify targets and support infantry operations.
Kostiantynivka's strategic importance extends far beyond the city itself. If Russian forces succeed in isolating or capturing it, they would gain a stronger position from which to threaten Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the two largest Ukrainian-held cities in Donetsk region. Such a development would mark a significant shift in the military balance across the eastern front.
The battle also highlights broader challenges facing Ukraine's armed forces. Frontline troops continue to report shortages of personnel, while commanders face increasing pressure to hold defensive lines stretched across hundreds of kilometres. Several soldiers said replenishment rates remain below battlefield losses, limiting the military's ability to launch counterattacks and forcing units to prioritise defence.
At the same time, Kyiv continues to pursue a parallel strategy aimed at disrupting Russian logistics far behind the front. Ukrainian strikes on fuel infrastructure and transport routes in occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine have complicated Russian supply operations. However, soldiers near Kostiantynivka say those effects have yet to translate into a noticeable reduction in Russian pressure on their sector.
For European security observers, the battle for Kostiantynivka is becoming one of the most important indicators of the war's current trajectory. The fighting demonstrates how Russia continues to favour gradual attritional advances supported by overwhelming drone, artillery and airpower, while Ukraine seeks to offset manpower disadvantages through technology and precision strikes.
Whether Kostiantynivka can hold may depend not only on local tactical decisions but also on Ukraine's ability to sustain personnel levels, expand drone capabilities and maintain pressure on Russian logistics. As the struggle for eastern Donbas enters a new phase, the city has become a critical test of both sides' ability to adapt to the evolving realities of modern warfare.