Zelensky: Russia's 'humanitarian mission' in Kostiantynivka is a trap to seize the city

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia's proposed "humanitarian mission" in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, is a ploy to force Ukrainian troops to withdraw so Russian forces can occupy the city. Zelensky said Russian forces have failed to capture Kostiantynivka for 1.5 years, suffering significant losses, including 54,000 killed or seriously wounded in October alone. He noted Russia has not proposed humanitarian operations in other locations with blocked civilians, such as near Oleshky in Kherson region. Zelensky added that after Kostiantynivka, Russian targets would be Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, as Moscow seeks to destroy these cities. Ukraine has shared information about seven to eight settlements with blocked civilians with the US, but Russia proposed operations in none of them.