Ukraine's Skelia Regiment Clears Kostiantynivka as Russia's July 3 Capture Claim Unravels
Updated
Updated · Мілітарний · Jul 18
Ukraine's Skelia Regiment Clears Kostiantynivka as Russia's July 3 Capture Claim Unravels
3 articles · Updated · Мілітарний · Jul 18
Summary
Kostiantynivka has been cleared of Russian forces by Ukraine's Skelia Regiment, reversing Moscow's claim that the city had already fallen.
July 3 marked Russia's public declaration of full control, but Ukrainian commanders and independent analysts had said Russian troops only infiltrated parts of the city without securing it.
ISW assessed Russian forces held a presence in 36.98% of Kostiantynivka and made 76.73% of June gains there, yet still lacked enduring control across much of the city.
The operation underscores Ukraine's growing ability to defeat infiltration tactics, with the Skelia Regiment shifting quickly from a recent clearing mission in Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
Kostiantynivka had been a main target of Russia's spring-summer 2026 offensive against Ukraine's 'Fortress Belt,' making the setback a broader blow to that campaign.