Ukraine’s President’s Office has commented on a statement by Russian leader Vladimir Putin about his “readiness” to carry out a “humanitarian” mission in Kostiantynivka, where the Defence Forces are fighting the occupiers. Presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn told journalists that all the details need to be clarified, but during the humanitarian mission in Oleshky the Russians strengthened their positions.
The operation in Oleshky was carried out last month by Ukraine and Russia with the assistance of US First Lady Melania Trump. Residents of the occupied city, which found itself in appalling conditions after Russia seized it, received humanitarian aid and the opportunity to leave for Ukraine’s free territory or travel to Russia.
“Given that in Oleshky they brought in equipment and rotated troops under the cover of the humanitarian operation, it is clear what they want in Kostiantynivka,” Lytvyn commented.
Putin made the statement about Kostiantynivka on the sidelines of talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—US special envoys who travelled to Moscow after two days of negotiations with the Ukrainian and Russian teams in the UAE. After meeting Putin, they will fly to Ireland, where they will pass their work on to the Ukrainian president.
- The General Staff of the Armed Forces reported that the enemy exploited the ceasefire regime in and around Oleshky immediately after the mission ended. For details of how the occupiers reinforced their positions during the rescue of Ukrainian civilians, read Tetiana Nehoda’s interview: “Yevhen Voronetskyi, the Borysfen Brigade: "The ceasefire regime in Oleshky set us back by two months"”.