Russian occupying forces are conducting massive scorched-earth attacks on the city of Kostyantynivka using guided aerial bombs and small assault groups [1].
The intensification of these strikes represents a strategic effort by Russia to break Ukrainian defensive lines and capture the city. By employing a scorched-earth strategy, Russian forces aim to weaken resistance through the systematic destruction of urban infrastructure.
Ukrainian defenders, including the reconnaissance unit "Phoenix," have focused on clearing southern districts to repel the advances [1]. According to reports from the defenders, Russian losses have reached up to 53 combatants per day [1].
Aerial reconnaissance footage provides evidence of the scale of the destruction. The nearby settlement of Vodyanske has been reduced to ruins, illustrating the impact of the guided munitions used in the campaign [1]. These strikes are designed to erase the city's physical landscape and displace the remaining population.
Ukrainian forces continue to operate within the city to maintain their positions despite the aerial bombardment [1]. The use of small assault groups suggests a tactical shift to infiltrate defenses while the guided bombs provide cover by destroying fortified positions [1].
“Russian forces are conducting massive scorched-earth attacks on the city of Kostyantynivka.”
The use of guided aerial bombs in a scorched-earth campaign suggests that Russian forces are prioritizing the neutralization of defensive fortifications over the preservation of urban infrastructure. By targeting Kostyantynivka and Vodyanske, Russia is attempting to create a buffer of ruins that complicates Ukrainian logistics and forces defenders into more exposed positions.
