Russia says it took control of Kostiantynivka, Ukraine denies losing city

The Russian side's statement about the "capture" of Kostiantynivka city in Ukraine's Donetsk region is false. The city remains under the control of Ukraine's Defense Forces, the spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major Andrii Kovaliov told RBC-Ukraine, Report informs.

He noted that, according to the operational situation displayed in the Armed Forces' Dzvin command and control system and the DELTA battlefield management system, Kostiantynivka remains under the control of Ukraine's Defense Forces.

Military units and formations of the East Operational Group's 19th Army Corps continue conducting defensive operations along designated lines within the city and on its approaches, he added.

At the same time, Sergey Rudskoy, Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian General Staff, stated at a briefing on Saturday that Kostiantynivka formed the main line of defense for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donbas, and that its capture is the key to the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration.