The situation in Kostiantynivka is worsening, with Russian forces now being spotted beyond the city itself in the village of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka to the east, three soldiers from units defending the city told hromadske.

Ukrainian soldiers are receiving warnings that transferring after unauthorized absence from unit (AWOL) has become much harder. In some brigades, notices are circulating that the General Staff has changed the return from AWOL mechanism — troops can now return only to air assault forces or assault regiments.

One such message was forwarded to hromadske by a soldier from a Land Forces mechanized brigade.

Recently, Ukraine's 35th Separate Marine Brigade lost fighters in Russian missile strikes, according to an informed hromadske source.