Russian attacks push Kostiantynivka to brink of disaster, regional authorities warn
Kostiantynivka is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe due to Russian shelling that has cut power, gas, and water supplies, Donetsk Oblast Military Administration head Vadym Filashkin reported on Telegram on June 25.
Nearly half the city is without electricity because of the Russian attacks.
In the Santurynivka district, 1,900 households lack gas supply, with restoration currently impossible. Water is available only once daily, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the governor added.
Public transportation has been severely disrupted, with suburban bus services canceled due to Russian drone strikes and the route to Druzhkivka operating on a limited schedule, Filashkin said.
To address water shortages, the city has seven reservoirs, 11 water storage tanks, and 12 boreholes, six of which provide purified water. Five points of invincibility are operational, with two more on standby.
Despite the dire situation, medical staff, utility workers, police, and local authorities continue to function, Filashkin said, though Russia systematically destroys critical infrastructure.
“Evacuation is not just a choice; it’s a matter of survival,” the official stressed, urging residents to leave.
On June 16, Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Troop Grouping spokesperson Viktor Trehubov reported that Russian forces are attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses toward Kostiantynivka, aiming to encircle the city from three directions.
The Economist reported on June 9 that captured Russian officers, citing Ukrainian intelligence, identified Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk as key targets in Russia’s “final push” for a summer offensive.
In late May 2024, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War noted Russia’s significant expansion of its foothold southwest of Kostiantynivka, particularly near Toretsk.
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