MOSCOW, July 4 — RIA Novosti. The first fortress city of the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration has fallen, Russian analyst and editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko told RIA Novosti.
“The capture of Konstantinovka is a significant Russian military success, confirming that the strategic initiative is entirely in the hands of the Russian army command. Konstantinovka is the first fortress city, the capture of which will break the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration,” said Korotchenko.
At the same time, according to the expert, this is a powerful blow to Ukraine’s propaganda system.
“Ukrainian propaganda has failed,” Korotchenko said.
“The capture of Konstantinovka clearly demonstrates the illusory nature of (Vladimir – ed.) Zelensky’s and his Western backers’ plans to hold the front even on the propaganda front,” Korotchenko said.
On July 3, Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to President Vladimir Putin that the Russian army had completely liberated Konstantinovka. Putin called this event the key to liberating the entire territory of the DPR, noting that it opened a direct path to advancing on Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.