Putin wants Oleshky-type "humanitarian mission" in Kostiantynivka, which Russia falsely claims to control

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has proposed that a so-called "humanitarian mission" should be carried out in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, along the same lines as the one in Oleshky. Putin made the suggestion during a meeting with US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Kremlin leader falsely claimed in July that Russian forces had captured the city.

Source: RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet

Details: Ukraine's General Staff previously stated that Putin's claims regarding the occupation of Kostiantynivka by Russian forces were false.

At the time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Putin to meet him in Kostiantynivka, which Russia claimed to have occupied.

Nevertheless, Putin continues to insist that Russian forces control Kostiantynivka and are supposedly prepared to ensure the safety of a humanitarian operation.

Quote from Putin: "There is a town in Donbas called Kostiantynivka where there are still around 400-500 civilians. Let's do the same thing we did in Oleshky and invite representatives of the foreign press, including American journalists."

Details: Putin also spoke at length about the need for five days to clear mines from the area near the city. He said the organisation of the "mission" should be entrusted to Russia's human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, and Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets.

"If the Ukrainian authorities control this city, as they claim, then let them ensure security," he said.

Update: Commenting on Putin's proposal, Zelenskyy's communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said that all the details need to be clarified.

"Given that in Oleshky they [the Russians – ed.] brought in military equipment and rotated troops under the cover of a humanitarian operation, it is clear what they want in Kostiantynivka, but all the details need to be clarified," he noted.

Background: Earlier, Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, reported that during the ceasefire in Oleshky, Russian occupation forces had returned to positions that Ukrainian defenders had spent almost a year driving them out of.

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