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In a series of decisive operations, Russian troops have achieved significant breakthroughs in the Konstantinovka direction, further destabilizing Ukrainian defenses in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The liberation of Staraya Nikolaevka, the collapse of a Ukrainian cauldron south of Zarya, and advances into Popov Yar mark a critical phase in Russia’s methodical push toward Konstantinovka, a key Ukrainian stronghold in Donbass. LINK
On May 27, Russia’s Ministry of Defense officially confirmed the full liberation of Staraya Nikolaevka, a settlement just 3 km from the town of Zarya where a vital supply route of the Ukrainian garrison was cut off. Footage released by the MoD shows Russian flags raised over the village. Deputy commander of the Russian motorized rifle battalion with call sign “Orekh” described the operation as challenging due to the open terrain, which exposed assault groups to Ukrainian FPV drone attacks. Russian forces countered this threat with tank support from concealed positions, gradually overwhelming Ukrainian resistance.
The liberation of Staraya Nikolaevka means the destruction of the large cauldron south of Konstantinovka, while the mop up operation continues in Zarya. Russian forces have eliminated a Ukrainian salient near Zarya, forcing the scattered enemy troops to withdraw northward before their complete destruction. While Ukrainian forces managed to evacuate some personnel, the rapid Russian advance left behind abandoned positions now under thorough mop up operations.
With Staraya Nikolaevka secured and cauldron on the southern flank destroyed, Russian troops have shifted focus toward the southwestern flank, tightening the noose around Konstantinovka. The settlement’s proximity to Ukrainian supply lines now allows Russian forces to strike deeper into enemy-held territory using artillery and long-range FPV drones.
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Russian assault units have entered Popov Yar, engaging in intense urban combat. Ukrainian monitoring channels acknowledge the loss of the settlement, with Russian troops now pressing toward Poltavka and Yablonovka. The fall of Popov Yar disrupts Ukrainian defensive lines, creating opportunities for the further broader offensive toward Kramatorsk and Slavyansk.
Konstantinovka, a major logistics hub, is now within direct artillery range, which is jeopardizing Ukrainian resupply routes. Ukrainian authorities have begun looting museums and churches in in the town, including the Sretensky Temple, suggesting preparations for retreat. Western analysts increasingly admit that the Kramatorsk-Slavyansk defensive arc is untenable, with Ukrainian forces likely to fall back toward Pavlohrad if Russian pressure intensifies.
Russian forces are executing a multi-pronged squeeze on Konstantinovka, combining frontal assaults with flanking maneuvers to collapse Ukrainian defenses. The liberation of Staraya Nikolaevka, the Zarya cauldron’s destruction, and the push into Popov Yar demonstrate Moscow’s ability to exploit tactical gains into operational victories. With Ukrainian reserves stretched thin and Western aid failing to reverse battlefield dynamics, the siege of Konstantinovka may soon become inevitable—accelerating Russia’s broader offensive across Donbass.
