ISW refutes Russian claims of trapping Ukrainian forces in Kostyantynivka

Videos circulated online on June 3 show that Russian forces conducted an infiltration operation in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka area, but no confirmed advance occurred. The footage shows Ukrainian forces striking a building captured by the Russians in the western part of Kostyantynivka following the infiltration.

The ISW emphasized that evidence of Russian troops' presence in Kostyantynivka does not indicate that the occupiers have surrounded Ukrainian forces in the city center. Russian milbloggers had claimed that Russian forces advanced in the industrial zone in the center and a residential area in the west.

In turn, the Institute's analysts noted the presence of Russian saboteurs in the central and western parts of Kostyantynivka. However, they are only establishing a temporary presence and are not forming a cohesive front line, the analysis said.

"ISW has not observed any evidence indicating that Russian forces have secured positions anywhere other than the extreme southeastern outskirts of Kostyantynivka. ISW has not observed any evidence indicating that Russian forces are encircling Ukrainian forces," the report states.

On June 2, DeepState monitoring group wrote that the Russian infiltration zone in Kostyantynivka is expanding, which could lead to the "inevitable absorption of the settlement." Specifically, the southern and eastern parts of the city are under active pressure, and the capture of Illinivka and Novodmytrivka threatens the northern part of the town.

The ISW earlier pointed out that Russian occupiers first infiltrated Kostyantynivka back in autumn 2025, but have not achieved significant progress since then.