Russian Forces Capture Kostiantynivka and Sever Ukrainian Maritime Trade

The Military of Russia captured Kostiantynivka in July 2026, marking the fall of one of four key cities in the Donetsk fortress belt. To achieve this, Russian forces deployed small assault groups supported by intense artillery and glide-bomb strikes, which analysts say reduced large portions of the urban area to rubble. Russian advances continue toward the remaining agglomeration of Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk as the military seeks full control of Donetsk Oblast.

This offensive follows a broader campaign throughout 2026 that saw the seizure of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk in early 2026, and the capture of 63 settlements across the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy, Zaporozhye, and Dnepropetrovsk regions between March and May to establish a border security zone. Simultaneously, Russia effectively ended Ukrainian maritime and trade operations from Odessa and Nikolaev on July 22, 2026, after Ukraine targeted Russian shipping in the Azov Sea.

Despite these territorial gains, analysts note that the Russian army faces significant logistical hurdles, including fuel shortages and collapsing supply lines, which hinder their ability to reinforce advances against Ukrainian drone strikes and counterattacks. Meanwhile, Russian forces maintain daily missile and drone attacks on Kiev and other strategic logistics hubs.