Vladimir Putin has released a propaganda video announcing the occupation of the Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka in the Donbas region, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied that the city has fallen to Russian troops. Zelensky said that, if Russia had truly captured the city, Putin should have no problem meeting him there to discuss an end to the war.
The Ukrainian military command has stated that Russia is grossly exaggerating its gains in the area and that Russian forces are still fighting on the outskirts of the city.
In a separate message addressed to the OSCE, President Zelensky urged the international community to pressure Russia to return Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Kostiantynivka lies just around 30-40 kilometres away from Ukraine’s Donbas fortress belt, which also includes Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Ukraine has been making net territorial gains in recent weeks, compelling Vladimir Putin to produce positive military announcements ahead of Russia’s scheduled general elections in September.
Newsroom
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