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
The ninth Paris Peace Forum took place in the French capital from Tuesday to Wednesday, calling for reinforced multilateral cooperation to confront global challenges across security, climate, technology and development.
Held under the theme "From sovereignty to cooperation," the two-day forum gathered more than 350 global speakers across more than 80 discussion sessions. The agenda spanned four primary tracks: peace and geopolitics, the planet, development, and emerging technologies. Alongside the main event, organizers held a "Child Summit" focused on children's welfare amid global shifts.
Organizers said this year's forum was held in a backdrop of strain on multilateral institutions and international law, arguing that nations must strengthen mutual cooperation while preserving sovereignty to effectively address worldwide crises.
In a video speech delivered at the opening session, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described sovereignty as a core principle of the UN Charter, while noting that cooperation remains essential for nations to safeguard their own sovereignty. Guterres called on the international community to build a networked, multipolar world grounded in international law.
Addressing the tension between safeguarding sovereignty and pursuing multilateralism, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, warned against rising unilateralism.
"Currently, some countries are pursuing many unilateralist, or even hegemonic policies. As a result, for many nations, the issue of how to enhance their own capabilities -- especially the capability to safeguard and defend their sovereignty -- has become rather urgent. On the other hand, however, the enhancement and strengthening of sovereignty should not contradict international cooperation," Cui said.
This year's forum also placed particular emphasis on cooperation regarding critical mineral resources. Experts noted that as long-standing major suppliers of mineral resources, countries of the Global South still need stronger voice and protection of their interests in international resource cooperation, calling for more open and inclusive mechanisms to help them better participate in global industrial and supply chains.
"As a representative country of the Global South, China has actually made substantial policy, financial, and industrial investments over the years, both in strengthening trade and industrial cooperation with other Global South countries and in promoting green and digital transformation," Cui said.
Launched in 2018, the Paris Peace Forum serves as an international platform for states, international organizations, and non-governmental actors to advance global governance solutions.
9th Paris Peace Forum urges global cooperation amid rising pressures on multilateralism
