Capture of Kostiantynivka
| Capture of Kostiantynivka (2025) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of 2025 Sumy Oblast incursion and Russian occupation of Sumy Oblast | |||||||||
 Kostiantynivka captured by Russian forces on June 2, 2025. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Russia |
 Ukraine | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
18th Guards Motor Rifle Division 177th Naval Infantry Regiment 76th Guards Air Assault Division 200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade | General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 50,000–60,000 | 20,000–30,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 457 settlements home to over 600,000 people lost power and atleast 28 civilians injured and 4 killed. | |||||||||
On June 2–3, 2025, during the Russian Federation's intensified Spring Offensive in northeastern Ukraine, Russian ground forces seized the village of Kostiantynivka in Sumy Oblast. According to Ukrainian military analysts (DeepState), this seizure was a result of incursions that began on June 1, the day that Russian infantry and combined-arms formations which had elements of the 90th Tank and 382nd Naval Infantry Battalions pushed extremely far into the border regions of Ukraine . The loss of Kostiantynivka signifies the first verified Russian territorial gain in Sumy Oblast since the original incursion of the Russian Federation in January, this also represents a important milestone in Moscow's summer campaign to create a buffer zone along the Russia–Ukraine border.
The tactical capture of Kostiantynivka puts Russian forces approximately 20–25 km from Sumy city, allowing FPV drones and tube artillery to engage Ukrainian positions and logistical points. It additionally supports simultaneous advances into Donetsk Oblast—including the recent penetration along the Pokrovsk–Toretsk–Kostiantynivka corridor putting key supply routes at risk, and Ukrainian forces in danger of encirclement.
The operation occurred amid heightened tensions over stalled peace talks, ongoing prisoner and body exchanges, and relentless Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine . Ukrainian defense officials have confirmed resistance in the region, even as Russian forces consolidate control over more than 190 km² of territory in Sumy Oblast since early June.
Background
On June 1, Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service, reported that Russian forces were ramping up their activity in Sumy Oblast, on a national 24 hour news report. Demchenko explained that Russian forces were continually widening the zone of current active hostilities in the area, and increasing the potential for further penetration into Ukrainian territory. He explained that assaulting Russian units are working in small mobile groups (and operating motorcycles or vehicles), were making probing movements across the border.[1][2]
This mobile group is trying to breach Ukrainian defenses, gain a foothold, and hold that ground until they can be sustained by reinforcements and then launch organized attacks against Ukrainian defensive positions, disrupt defense, and create tactical gains. In conjunction with those events, independent military monitoring group DeepState reported in the night between 31 May and 1 June that Russian forces have captured the village of Volodymyrivka in Sumy Oblast. This is significant for the area and the broader conflict, as it indicates Russians are continuing their efforts to escalate the situation along Ukraine's northeastern border, and increase pressure on local Ukrainian defenses.[3]
Battle
Expanding the northern frontline
As of June 2, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Russian troops were trying to extend the frontline in northern Sumy Oblast to the north and northeast of Sumy City in three directions. They verified that the Russians had been active more recently around the settlements of Andriivka and Yablunivka.[4] Pro-Russian military sources indicated that the Russians had taken the settlements of Oleksiivka, Novomykhailivka, and Kindrativka, and Russian units were advancing into northern Andriivka, pushing west of Yablunivka, and advancing toward Kostyantynivka.[5]
A report indicated units from Russia’s 18th Motorized Rifle Division and the 177th Naval Infantry Regiment were operating in the area with support from airborne troops from the 76th Guards Air Assault Division.[6] According to the military analyst Kostyantyn Mashovets, the 752nd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment and the 200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade were recently moved from operations in the Lyman and Chasiv Yar areas to reinforce Russian positions in Sumy Oblast.[7]
Russia’s strategic goals
ISW notes that Moscow aims to approach the Khotin-Khrapivshchyna line, roughly 12–15 km from Sumy, placing the city within tube artillery range. The reported use of drones and artillery strikes is likely part of preparations for a potential offensive on Sumy City. However, ISW assesses that Russian forces are unlikely to capture the city in the near term.[5][8]
Russian meat-wave assaults
Fighting continues in the area of Bilovody and Loknya, while Russian forces are trying to breach Ukrainian lines near Yablunivka.[9] In addition, Deep State co-founder Ruslan Mykula commented that while Ukrainian forces appear to be repelling assaults in certain areas, Russian forces are also trying to outflank Yunakivka from the west.[10]
Previously, military observer Narozhny indicated that drones were being used to conduct operations near Novenke to disrupt supply routines to Ukraine. He also indicated, in addition, that the Russians are moving in Volodymyrivka and that Yunakivka was important because it was a staging point for operations toward Sumy.[11]
A combat medic who spoke anonymously with Suspilne drew attention to the problems stemming from Russian superiority in drones and armored vehicles, as these contributed to the difficulties of the evacuation and logistics process. A Ukrainian sergeant on the frontline explained the Russian wave style attacks, small units on motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles would push into the same place in succession and then regroup into forests and rural villages.[12]
Capture of Strategic villages
Reports from the Ukrainian military analysis group DeepState indicated on the night of 2–3 June that Russian forces gained control over the village of Kostiantynivka in the northern Sumy Oblast.[13] They also suggested that Russian forces were probably in control of Kindrativka, Vodolaha and Oleksiivka, but this was still being verified.[14]
Russian infantry units have reportedly established a foothold in Kindrativka, where Ukrainian defenders have had increased difficulty holding back due to numbers. In Oleksiivka, Russian forces had been pushed back along the northern edge - but continued to advance with repeated "rush" attacks in a very aggressive manner with heavy fighting in the area.[15]
At the same time, Russian troops were advancing towards Yablunivka from different directions while also attempting to move into Yunakivka. The fighting in Yunakivka has been impeded by damage to the surrounding area – the destruction has decreased the invaders' ability to hold their positions. DeepState asserted that Russian forces seem to be employing the majority of their effort on reaching the village of Khotin. The route to Khotin is generally wide open. If they capture Khotin, it brings the city of Sumy approximately 20-25 km away in range of FPV drone attacks. The analysts also noted the northern part of Sumy Oblast has elevated terrain from which to launch such drone attacks.[16]
Territory under Russian control
As of 2 June, Russian troops controlled around 125 square kilometers of northern Sumy Oblast, with another 70 km² in the grey zone, according to Deep State. Villages under Russian control also include Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka. Overnight on 3 June, DeepState reported that Russian forces had captured Kostiantynivka in Sumy Oblast. The status of Kindrativka, Vodolaha, and Oleksiivka remains under clarification.[17]
Aftermath
In the Sumy direction, Russian forces claimed to have taken the towns of Varachyne and Yablunivka, while geolocated footage confirmed Russian control over Vodolahy. Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) claimed to have hacked the Tupolev design bureau's server, stealing some 4.4 gigabytes of data before replacing the design bureau's webpage with an image of an owl clutching a Russian aircraft.
See also
References
- ↑ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2025-06-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "There is nothing left in Ukraine".
- ↑ "Russians occupy Kostiantynivka in Sumy Oblast: nearby villages under threat – DeepState". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ Faulconbridge, Guy; Kolodyazhnyy, Anton; Vasovic, Aleksandar; Faulconbridge, Guy; Vasovic, Aleksandar (2025-06-08). "Russia advances to east-central Ukrainian region amid row over dead soldiers". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Zoria, Yuri (2025-06-03). "Russia captures Sumy's Kostiantynivka village as Russians try to widen frontline in region". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ Miller, Christopher; Seddon, Max (2025-05-21). "Putin visits reclaimed Kursk region as Russia presses battlefield advantage". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ "Russians occupy Kostiantynivka in Sumy Oblast: nearby villages under threat – DeepState". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ "Russians occupy Kostiantynivka in Sumy Oblast: nearby villages under threat – DeepState". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ Lister, Tim (2025-06-03). "Despite Ukraine's daring attacks, Russian forces advance on major city of Sumy". CNN. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ "Russian advances south of Kostiantynivka. Day 1182 of the war". OSW Centre for Eastern Studies. 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ "Russia's summer offensive aims to capture key Ukrainian city — Media". RBC-Ukraine. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ "Russian Forces Capture Two More Villages in Ukraine's Sumy Oblast - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ Faulconbridge, Guy; Kelly, Lidia; Faulconbridge, Guy (2025-06-04). "Russian forces advance deeper into Ukraine's Sumy region". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ Hunder, Max (2025-05-28). "Russia masses over 50,000 troops for offensive on northeastern Ukraine, Zelenskiy says". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ↑ "Ukraine braces for expected Russian summer offensive in the east". The Washington Post.
- ↑ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2025-06-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Boffey, Daniel (2025-06-08). "Russian forces closing in on Sumy city three years after Ukraine forced them out of region". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
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