Russia’s Ministry of Defense: Kyiv is preparing for the loss of Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, and the entire Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration

Russia’s Ministry of Defense has stated that Ukrainian authorities are actively preparing for the loss of Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Kramatorsk, after which the entire Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration will follow.

The ministry indicated that the significant pace of Russian forces’ advance in Kostiantynivka has forced Ukraine to begin evacuating key enterprises and their personnel from Kramatorsk to the western regions of the country. According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, the production capacities of the Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant have already been removed from the city along with 3,500 workers. Since June 9, a mandatory evacuation of families with children under 17 has been underway in the city.

On an emergency basis, the ministry also stated, preparations are being made to evacuate three more large enterprises: the Novokramatorsk Machine-Building Plant (NKMZ), which specializes in the repair and restoration of armored vehicles; the Starokramatorsk Machine-Building Plant, which produces barrels for large-caliber artillery; and the Energomashspetsstal plant, which manufactures equipment for high-technology industries, including the nuclear sector.

Russia’s military ministry emphasized that Kyiv, despite “triumphant declarations about an imminent turning point on the battlefield” — which the Russian Ministry of Defense assessed as intended for a Western audience — “not only recognizes but is actively preparing for the imminent abandonment of Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Kramatorsk, after which will follow the complete loss of the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration.”

On June 14, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that units of the Russian Armed Forces had blockaded Ukrainian armed formations in Kostiantynivka. Prior to that, Russian forces had taken control of the eastern part of the city in the Donetsk People’s Republic.