The Imminent Threat

Just a year ago, Konstakha, as locals and military personnel affectionately call the city, was considered a relatively rear-echelon town. It had hospitals, public transportation, and people were evacuated here, particularly from the Bakhmut direction.

In the summer of 2024, Russian occupation forces opened a new line of attack on the town of Toretsk, located just 20 kilometers east of Konstyantynivka. At the same time, the Russians continued their attempts to occupy and advance from Chasiv Yar, 20 kilometers to the north. As the occupiers advanced in these areas, the situation in Kostyantynivka worsened. The number of shelling incidents in the city increased significantly, as did the number of civilian casualties and fatalities.

In early March 2025, Russian missiles landed just meters from one of the city’s last functioning medical facilities. Members of the evacuation team from the Vostok SOS charity foundation witnessed the shelling. The situation with educational institutions is similar. Schools, kindergartens, and technical colleges became customary targets for Russian attacks.

In early March, it was reported that 13,000 people remained in Kostyantynivka. Despite the abundance of information about the danger, Kostyantynivka residents are neglecting evacuation and are in no hurry to leave the city. Some refuse to evacuate even after social workers or relatives caring for the elderly have filled out rescue requests. “As long as there’s water and power, we’ll stay here”, — say locals.