Russia claims full control of Konstantinovka city in eastern Ukraine, while Ukraine denies

Russia has taken full control of the city of Konstantinovka in eastern Ukraine, said Colonel General Sergey Rudskoy, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff and first deputy chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, at a Russian Defense Ministry briefing for the media on Saturday.

However, Ukraine denied the claim.

Konstantinovka is a key stronghold located in Ukraine's Donetsk region.

Russian forces took control of about 66 square kilometers in Konstantinovka, and the Ukrainian forces have been repelled several kilometers away, Rudskoy said.

The capture of Konstantinovka means Russia's taking control of the key gateway of the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk-Konstantinovka urban agglomeration. Russian forces are advancing towards the urban agglomeration from multiple directions and have already reached eight kilometers from the eastern suburbs of Slavyansk, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the capture of Konstantinovka "carries great strategic significance," while visiting one of the temporary command posts of the joint force grouping on Friday.

"As we all know, the city is a key transportation hub and a major industrial center of Donbas," Putin said, adding that Russian forces have taken control of 133 settlements and more than 3,000 square km across Donbas and Novorossiya since the start of 2026.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied Russia's claim.

Andriy Kovalev, Ukraine's General Staff spokesman, said that Russia is still trying to seize Konstantinovka, which is under the control of Ukrainian forces.

Russia claims full control of Konstantinovka city in eastern Ukraine, while Ukraine denies

Chinese peacekeepers in Abyei, a disputed border region between Sudan and South Sudan under United Nations protection, on Sunday successfully completed a key airlift mission supporting the rotation of a Vietnamese engineering company of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

After three days of non-stop operations, the 6th Chinese helicopter contingent to Abyei flew 20 sorties totaling 25 flight hours and more than 4,200 kilometers, safely transporting 220 Vietnamese peacekeepers and 4.3 tons of cargo and equipment for the rotation of UNISFA's Vietnamese engineering company.

Abyei's complex, rapidly changing weather posed major challenges to formation flying, cargo transfer, and precision landings. The contingent's command team coordinated the mission systematically, monitoring weather changes in real time and dynamically assessing airspace conditions.

Flight crews flexibly adjusted flight routes and operational plans, precisely avoiding hazardous weather areas and refining takeoff, cruise and landing procedures. They also carried out meticulous aircraft maintenance, ground support and security measures, ensuring the successful completion of the rotation transport mission.

Since its deployment, the 6th Chinese helicopter contingent to Abyei has routinely undertaken diversified missions, including troop rotation, cargo delivery, aerial reconnaissance and emergency rescue.

Chinese helicopter unit completes rotation of Vietnamese peacemakers at Sudan border