RUSSIAN AND SOVIET STATES SURROUND CONSTANTINE: "The last Ukrainian fortress is falling", writes the German media

The Ukrainian General Staff has confirmed that military units have struck three bridges, storage facilities, and command posts of Russian forces during operations on June 28 and into the early hours of June 29. These attacks were part of a broader offensive aimed at disrupting enemy logistics and communications. According to reports, the bridges targeted included an automobile bridge near Nova Azovsk in Donetsk Oblast and two railway bridges in Lugansk Oblast. These structures were critical for the movement of personnel, weapons, ammunition, and materiel by the occupying forces.

In addition to the bridges, Ukrainian forces also damaged a storage facility for material and technical resources in the area of Novosvitlivka, Lugansk Oblast. The destruction of these sites was intended to hinder the ability of Russian troops to sustain their operations in the region. The General Staff noted that the results of the strikes are still being verified, indicating ongoing assessments of the damage inflicted.

Further targets included three command posts of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated by the occupiers, located in Guľaypol, Zaporizhia Oblast; Tetyokino, Kursk Oblast (Russia); and Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast. Additionally, a command post for the electronic warfare unit of the invaders was hit in the area of Velika Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast. These strikes aimed to disrupt the coordination and control of Russian drone operations, which have played a significant role in surveillance and targeting efforts.

Meanwhile, in the south-eastern part of the Donbas, the town of Kostyantynivka, located in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), has become a focal point of intense fighting. Reports indicate that Russian forces have taken increasing control over parts of the city, with footage circulating online showing Russian or even Soviet flags raised in the center of the town. This suggests a strategic shift as Russian troops push further into the area, potentially leading to its full capture.

According to the Ministry of Defense, Russian armed forces have liberated 26 buildings in the city within a single day, destroying up to 100 members of the Ukrainian armed forces. Artillery units from the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the Southern Group of Forces reportedly destroyed two temporary distribution points of Ukrainian forces in the sector of Kostyantynivka. The town serves as a crucial rail transit hub for supplying Ukrainian forces in the Kramatorsk-Slaviansk area, making its loss strategically significant.

Kostyantynivka lies approximately 55 kilometers north of Donetsk, placing it at the heart of the conflict zone. Its strategic location makes it vital for both sides, as it facilitates the movement of supplies and reinforcements. President Vladimir Putin recently stated that Russian forces are applying pressure along the entire contact line and are close to liberating the city, underscoring the escalating intensity of the situation.

At the same time, Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, has expressed concerns regarding the support of Russian drone operations from Belarusian territory. He announced that communication equipment previously believed to assist in supporting Russian drone attacks from Belarusian soil has ceased functioning. This development comes shortly after Zelensky issued an ultimatum to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, highlighting the complex interplay between regional actors in the ongoing conflict.