Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that his forces are keeping the battlefield advantage in Ukraine, after the Kremlin announced the capture of the eastern city of Kostyantynivka. The city, which held roughly 78,000 residents before the war, fell following a campaign that began in late 2025 and is considered a key step toward the Donbas region’s remaining Ukrainian-held urban centers, including Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Putin made the comment while appearing on television in uniform alongside military leaders, thanking troops for taking the city. A Russian commander also reported ongoing operations against isolated Ukrainian soldiers in the area, and the Kremlin said Russian forces now control all of the Luhansk region.