Zelensky denies Russian capture of key eastern city Kostiantynivka

President Volodymyr Zelensky vehemently denied Russian assertions that its forces have captured the strategically vital eastern city of Kostiantynivka. Russia's Ministry of Defense had reported to President Vladimir Putin on Friday that its troops had seized control of the city, a key objective in Moscow's ongoing push through the Donetsk region. However, Zelensky dismissed these claims as falsehoods.

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Of course, that is not true. It is just another Russian lie, an attempt to generate some kind of a news story.

"Of course, that is not true. It is just another Russian lie, an attempt to generate some kind of a news story," Zelensky stated on the social media platform X. He further emphasized the city's importance, suggesting that if it were under Russian control, Putin might be more willing to meet him for peace talks. "If Kostiantynivka were under Russian control, then perhaps Putin would have no problem meeting me there to find a diplomatic way to finally end this war," he added.

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If Kostiantynivka were under Russian control, then perhaps Putin would have no problem meeting me there to find a diplomatic way to finally end this war.

Reinforcing the Ukrainian president's statement, Ukraine's General Staff also confirmed that Kostiantynivka remains under the control of Ukrainian forces. The General Staff reported that military units are actively engaged in defensive operations within the town and on its surrounding lines. This conflicting information highlights the intense information warfare accompanying the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, with both sides vying to control the narrative on the ground.

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Military units and subunits of the 19th Army Corps of the Eastern Grouping continue to conduct defensive operations on designated lines within the town and on its appr