Kremlin Says Ready for Civilian Evacuation From Ukraine’s Kostiantynivka
Kyiv has expressed concerns that Moscow might wish to use ceasefires for such missions to enable its military to regroup.
The Kremlin has declared readiness for a civilian evacuation from the Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, as proposed by President Vladimir Putin. This humanitarian operation would mirror a similar mission conducted in Oleshky last month. Putin suggested the joint Russian-Ukrainian initiative to U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Thursday, aiming to demonstrate control over the contested city.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported that the U.S. envoys "actively supported" this idea. Ukrainian officials expressed concerns that Moscow might exploit ceasefires for such operations, allowing its military to regroup. Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets clarified that Kostiantynivka was not among the potential settlements for such missions.
Putin addressed the potential for military rotations, stating that any movements would be visible from satellites and drones. He proposed that if Ukraine controls the town, they should ensure security there, aligning with the assumption that Russian troops control it. The Kremlin spokesman emphasized that the mission could help resolve disputes over "gray zones" along the frontline, with Russia's Prosecutor General's Office having designated The Moscow Times as an undesirable organization, putting its staff at risk of prosecution.
Written by urgent.news from The Moscow Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
