Analyst: The center of the new defense for Ukrainians may become Konstantinovka 0 8

If the Russians advance on Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region, they may face enormous losses while trying to move within the Kramatorsk-Slavyansk agglomeration throughout 2026, getting stuck there. This was stated by ATO veteran and military analyst Yevhen Dykyi on the air of "Radio NV."

According to him, depending on our actions and the concentration of forces, Ukraine can achieve a turning point in this war in its favor.

He notes that previously Konstantinovka was considered a powerful rear hub, but today the enemy is already 10 km from the city, with enemy artillery reaching it and drones flying between the houses.

"Throughout 2026, they may slowly advance, meter by meter, with enormous losses within this agglomeration. We can and, in my opinion, should hold it. There are very good defensive positions there."

He added that these cities may be sacrificed because it will be necessary to fight for every meter, and the enemy destroys everything in its path.

"We acknowledge that we will be fighting there all year, and in the course of these battles, this agglomeration will be absolutely uninhabitable. But by doing so, we can win almost a full year," he added.

According to him, it is important that we use this time for mobilization, for reorganizing army management, for mass production of everything we lack, and for a powerful campaign of diplomatic strikes against Russia.

"Well, in that case, the sacrifice of this agglomeration may lead to a turning point in the war. This agglomeration may become the last thing the Russians will fight for on our territory. But that won't happen if we just watch the prolonged battles there while doing nothing in the rear," said the analyst.

Konstantinovka is a city in Ukraine, the administrative center of the Konstantinovka urban community in the Kramatorsk district of the Donetsk region. Until 2020, it was the administrative center of the former Konstantinovka district. It is the seventh largest city in terms of area and population (78,179 people as of early 2022) in the Donetsk region. Konstantinovka is considered the capital of the glass industry in Ukraine. Together with neighboring cities, it forms the Kramatorsk-Konstantinovka agglomeration. It is one of the largest industrial centers in eastern Ukraine, with developed black and non-ferrous metallurgy, glass, chemical, and construction industries, as well as an important transit railway hub. In 2025, Konstantinovka was awarded the honorary title of "Hero City of Ukraine."