What is the expected Russian strategy for attacking Kostiantynivka?

Discover how the Russian army could advance on the city of Kostiantynivka in the current conflict.

The Russian and Ukrainian media are flooded with reports of fighting in the area of ​​the city of Kostiantynivka in the northwestern Donetsk region of Ukraine. The question is whether the Russian Armed Forces (RFAF) will attack this city, and if so, when?

But according to Western experts' analysis, it is unlikely that the RFAF will launch a direct attack on the city of Konstantinovka. Western military analysts came to this conclusion based on their analysis of the RFAF's latest exercises.

According to Western experts, the RFAF in this case will use a proven tactic of flanking the enemy’s stronghold. That is, instead of attacking directly, they will encircle from both flanks, in the style of “3 encirclements – 1 opening”.

The city of Konstantinovka is one of the strongholds of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in Donbass; especially after the fall of Bakhmut in May 2023, the AFU built it into a defense center in Donbass. It is also a logistical node, connecting the AFU garrisons in Chasovy Yar, Pokrovsk with the two remaining major cities of Donbass, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.

With such a defense, if the Russians organized a direct attack on Kostiantynivka, it could cause heavy losses to the attacking units; but on the contrary, isolating the combat area and depriving them of supplies would bring success.

According to Western military analysts, the Russian army is now trying to break through Konstantinovka from both sides, in order to cut off supplies not only to this city, but also to the Chasov Yar area, where the battles are nearing their end.

It is worth noting that such tactics have repeatedly brought great success to the RFAF in attacking large settlements in Donbass; for example, in Ugledar and Selidovo recently. The RFAF’s “3 encirclements – 1 opening” tactics not only limited casualties in urban combat, but also destroyed a lot of Ukrainian troops.

The RFAF's successes in reaching Konstantinovka were also recognized by Ukrainian and Western analytical sources. They noted that due to the actions of the Russian tactical air force, the Ukrainian troops were forced to abandon all fortified areas and retreat deeper into the urban environment.

The Rybar channel reported that units of the RFAF Central Group continue to advance towards Konstantinovsky from the south, which is now becoming the main direction of attack. According to Ukrainian sources, the AFU cannot stop the Russian advance in this direction, even with the support of reinforcements. In particular, from the direction of Mirnograd, the Russian troops are advancing straight towards Konstantinovka.

On May 25, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially confirmed the capture of the village of Romanivka, which had been overrun by the RFAF Center Group since May 19. The capture of the village allowed Russian troops to control Ukrainian troops by fire in the villages of Stara Mykolaivka and Gnativka.

Currently, the Ukrainian army is trapped in the villages of Staraya Nikolaevka and Ignatovka, their situation in the encirclement is really critical, as the Russian army is attacking from several directions at once. Especially when the Russian army captures Zorya, the Ukrainian army's defense here will end, because the encirclement has been closed.

Military Summary channel reported that there is information from Konstantinovsky direction about a new offensive of the Russian army. Currently, the shock units of the Central Army Group have completely controlled the village of Novoolenivka, located next to the T0514 road from Kostiantynivka to Pokrovsk. This is an important stronghold of the AFU in the south of Kostiantynivka,

According to the analysis of the Military Summary channel, there is a certain similarity between Novoolenivka and the Ocheretino stronghold west of Avdiivka. That is, after the Russian army took control of the Ocheretino stronghold, they began to advance quite rapidly in many directions at the same time from here and caused the chain collapse of the AFU west of Avdiivka.

According to the latest battlefield information, the Russian troops are advancing rapidly south of the Bychok River, controlling an additional 6-7 square kilometers of the area, expanding the zone of control near the village of Yablonivka. This is a small village, stretching from west to east, which is actually a village connected to the village of Aleksandro-Kalinovka, near the Kleban-Byk reservoir. From this area to the city of Konstantinovka is about 8 kilometers.

The expansion of the area of ​​control in the Yablonovka area is also a continuation of the coverage of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Zorya and Ignatovka (Gnatovka), further south. Further advance in this terrain could leave the Ukrainian garrison in Zorya surrounded on three sides.

It is also important that north of Yablonivka, there is the shortest route to the city of Druzhkovka and the Slavyansko-Kramatorsk municipality. For example, Yablonivka is 29 km from Druzhkovka by road and about 18 km in a straight line. This means that the RFAF’s operational artillery, from the village of Yablonivka, can attack these cities. (photo source Military Review, Rybar, Liveuamap, RT).

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/chien-luoc-nga-tan-cong-kostiantynivka-du-kien-ra-sao-post1543627.html