Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Russian claims that Moscow’s forces had seized Kostiantynivka on July 4, challenging President Vladimir Putin to meet him there. The following day, heavy urban combat continued in the city as Ukrainian forces actively repelled infiltrating Russian infantry groups.
Putin told military commanders on July 3 that Russian forces had taken the city, a key node in Ukraine’s “fortress belt,” a chain of fortified cities anchoring Donetsk’s defensive line. Russian state media circulated the claim within hours.
“Of course, that is not true. It is just another Russian lie, an attempt to generate some kind of a news story,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. He added that if the city were under Russian control, Putin “probably wouldn’t have a problem meeting me there to find a diplomatic way to finally end this war.”
Footage from the Sonyashnyk Telegram channel, affiliated with Ukrainian aviation, showed a MiG-29 destroying a building in Kostiantynivka’s industrial zone where Russian drone operators had sheltered. The 19th Army Corps of the Eastern Grouping confirmed Ukrainian forces are targeting Russian infiltration attempts, logistics routes, and personnel concentrations throughout the city.
‼️ Kostiantynivka remains under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, — 🇺🇦19th Army Corps
Statements by Russians about the alleged capture of the city were called another information fake by Ukrainian soldiers.
The military published videos from different districts of… pic.twitter.com/J9qMCALgnq
— Cloooud |🇺🇦 (@GloOouD) July 5, 2026
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the city remains under Ukrainian control, citing data from the Dzvin-AS operational command system and the DELTA battlefield management platform. Spokesperson Andriy Kovalev said units of the 19th Army Corps “continue defensive operations at designated lines within the settlement and on its approaches.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Zelenskyy’s meeting proposal, stating the city had “completely come under the control of the Russian Armed Forces” and that Putin would receive Zelenskyy in Moscow.
Russia’s Defense Ministry also proposed a six-hour ceasefire on July 6 to exchange fallen Ukrainian soldiers’ remains, giving Kyiv until 0900 GMT to respond. Russia said Ukraine rejected the offer.
