Putin Again Claims Kostiantynivka Capture, but City Remains Under Ukrainian Control

Russian President Vladimir Putin again claimed control over Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, a city Russia already declared captured in July 2026, and proposed inviting foreign media for a humanitarian mission. The claim contradicts reality, as the city remains under Ukrainian control. Russian forces have approached the city from eastern and southern directions, with fighting ongoing near Kostiantynivka. Ukraine's General Staff reported 187 combat clashes since November 7, with Ukrainian troops repelling 14 assaults in the Kostiantynivka direction. Previously, on July 3, 2026, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced the city's alleged capture, calling it "liberation." Putin's latest statement came during a meeting with U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Moscow.