Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire Dispute
Ukraine Rejects Russian Ceasefire for Kostiantynivka Body Handover Amid Conflicting Claims
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Key Points
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Moscow's claim about Kostiantynivka as 'just another Russian lie,' and Ukraine's General Staff reiterated that the town remains under Ukrainian control.
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Russia said it had proposed a six-hour humanitarian pause around Kostiantynivka and asked Kyiv to respond by 0900 GMT on Sunday, saying the pause would enable the recovery and handover of Ukrainian servicemen's bodies.
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Russian military commanders reportedly informed President Vladimir Putin that their forces had captured Kostiantynivka, a claim used to bolster Moscow's battlefield narrative even as Kyiv disputes the town's status.
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In Crimea, a Ukrainian attack reportedly killed one person and injured two others, with Kyiv expanding long-range strikes on the Russian-occupied peninsula as part of wider operations.
Ukraine has rejected Russia's proposal for a six-hour humanitarian ceasefire around Kostiantynivka, a contested city in eastern Donetsk, according to Head Topics. Moscow said the pause would allow the recovery and handover of Ukrainian soldiers' bodies — but Kyiv called the entire premise a lie.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russia's claim of capturing Kostiantynivka as 'just another Russian lie.' Ukraine's General Staff said the town remains under Ukrainian control, setting up a sharp clash of narratives with no independent verification possible on the ground.
Russia's Six-Hour Ceasefire Offer and Ukraine's Refusal
Russia's Defence Ministry said it proposed a six-hour halt in fighting near Kostiantynivka. The offer came with a deadline: Kyiv had to respond by 0900 GMT on Sunday, according to Saba News. Moscow said the pause was needed to collect and transfer the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukraine did not publicly respond to the proposal. Head Topics reported that the Russian ministry accused Kyiv of treating its soldiers as 'expendable material' by refusing the deal. Analysts note that Ukraine may have feared the pause could be used to move Russian troops into better positions.
Kyiv and Moscow Clash Over Who Controls Kostiantynivka
Russia claimed its forces captured Kostiantynivka and that military commanders personally briefed President Vladimir Putin on the takeover, according to India News Network. The city sits in Donetsk, a region Moscow has fought to control since 2022.
Ukraine's military flatly denied the claim. The General Staff said Ukrainian troops still hold the town. Daily Kos noted that both sides are presenting opposing accounts, and no independent journalists or monitors have confirmed either version. The fog of war makes verification nearly impossible.
Russia Uses Body Handover as Part of Broader War Messaging
Moscow framed the ceasefire offer as a humanitarian gesture. Saba News reported that Russia said it wanted to give Ukrainian families the chance to bury their soldiers with dignity. The offer was tied directly to Russia's claim of battlefield control — a claim Kyiv rejects entirely.
This kind of messaging fits a pattern Russia has used before. By offering a ceasefire tied to a disputed claim, Moscow puts Kyiv in a tough spot. Accepting could imply recognizing Russian control. Rejecting lets Russia say Ukraine abandoned its own soldiers.
Wider Fighting Continues Across Donetsk and Crimea
The Kostiantynivka dispute is one part of a much larger battle. Fighting continues across the Donetsk region, with both sides reporting attacks and counterattacks daily. The war shows no signs of slowing down on any front.
In Russian-occupied Crimea, a Ukrainian strike killed one person and injured two others, according to Daily Kos. Ukraine has stepped up long-range attacks on the peninsula as part of broader military operations. The strikes signal that Kyiv is expanding its reach beyond the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
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