Russia asks for a pause in the Donbas city of Kostiantynivka after more than a year of assaults failed to take it—ISW sees a bid to mass troops for nearby Druzhkivka
The city still stands as a Ukrainian-held ruin, and a truce there would be close to impossible to police, with Russian and Ukrainian troops fighting in the same streets.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia likely wants a ceasefire in Kostiantynivka to build up forces for an offensive toward the nearby city of Druzhkivka. This assessment is based on Russia's offer of a humanitarian mission to the city, which Russian President Vladimir Putin claims to hold but Ukrainian sources dispute.
Ukrainian partisan movement claimed on November 13 that Russian commanders plan to slip troops in under the humanitarian mission's cover. Despite Russia's ongoing attacks and drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, a pause that allows Russian units to stock up at the edge of the Fortress Belt of fortified Donbas cities could bring the next city, Druzhkivka, closer within range.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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