Russia announced the capture of the city of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region. This was reported on Friday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. According to him, the city "is completely under our control." As of the time of publication, there was no independent confirmation of this information. Fighting for Konstantinovka has been ongoing since the end of last year. Before the start of the full-scale war, the city had a population of about 78,000. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a meeting with representatives of the General Staff, called the capture of the city an event of "great strategic significance." He also stated that Russian troops continue to maintain the strategic initiative along the front line. The commander of the Russian group of troops, Anton Grunis, reported that after establishing control over the city, operations to search for individual Ukrainian servicemen, who he claims remain in buildings and destroyed neighborhoods, continue. Konstantinovka is considered one of the key settlements in the northern part of the Donetsk region. Before the fighting began, the city served as an important transport and logistics hub, and during the war, it became one of the strongholds of Ukrainian defense. This means that if Russian troops consolidate their position in the city, the next most significant targets could be Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. These cities remain the largest centers in the Donetsk region under Ukrainian control. Combat operations in the region continue, so the situation on the ground can change rapidly. Information about control over settlements during active fighting is often clarified as data comes in. Konstantinovka occupies an important place in the defense system of Donbas, so reports about the situation in the city can have a significant impact on the further development of hostilities in the region.