Lead

A Russian military expert says Ukrainian forces are continuing counterattack attempts near the city of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), despite what he describes as heavy and unjustified losses. The claims, reported by TASS, come amid ongoing hostilities in the region, which Russian officials say they have already brought under their control.

Coverage Comparison

The reporting from TASS, the only outlet covered in this analysis, presents two main threads. The first, based on statements by military expert Andrey Marochko, describes repeated Ukrainian attempts to retake lost positions around Konstantinovka, all of which he says have been repelled by Russian forces. The second thread centers on official Russian announcements, including a July 3 statement by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov that Russian forces had "completely liberated" Konstantinovka, and a comment by President Vladimir Putin describing that as a first step toward dismantling the Ukrainian military presence in the broader Slavyansk-Kramatorsk area.

While the two TASS articles both rely on Russian sources, they differ in focus. The first, dated July 13, emphasizes the failure of a Ukrainian counterattack in the previous week and the broader deterioration of Ukraine's defensive position, including in the Kharkov Region. The second, dated July 14, provides more detail on the ongoing nature of the fighting, including specific locations where Ukrainian forces are trying to break through.

Key Claims

  • According to military expert Andrey Marochko, Ukrainian forces are attempting to retake previously lost lines near Konstantinovka, with attacks aimed at flank areas including Novodmitrovka and Dolgaya Balka.
  • Marochko says the active phase of hostilities near Konstantinovka has been going on for an extended period, and that all Ukrainian attempts have been "futile and unsuccessful."
  • He further claims that the Ukrainian command "shows no regard for its personnel" and suffers "unjustified losses," effectively sending troops into the line of fire.
  • In a separate report, Marochko stated that during the previous week, Russian troops repelled all Ukrainian attacks near Konstantinovka, and that Kiev's forces "suffered losses and retreated from the city."
  • Marochko also asserted that the Ukrainian army's defensive line is collapsing in the Kharkov Region.
  • On July 3, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russian forces had fully liberated Konstantinovka.
  • President Vladimir Putin was quoted by TASS as saying that the liberation of Konstantinovka is "the first, but very important, step" toward the destruction of Ukrainian forces in the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk fortified area.

Perspectives

Russian military expert (Andrey Marochko)

Marochko portrays the Ukrainian counterattacks as futile and costly, asserting that Russian forces are successfully repelling all assaults and that Ukrainian command is disregarding the safety of its own troops.

Russian official sources (Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin)

Russian official statements, as carried by TASS, present Konstantinovka's fall as a significant strategic achievement and part of a broader effort to dismantle Ukrainian defensive positions in the Donbas region.