The fighting for Kostiantynivka resembles a "salad" with no continuous front line in the city – military expert Pavlo Lakiichuk

The situation in Kostiantynivka cannot be described in terms of "the city has been captured" or "the city is being held". At present, extremely complex urban combat is ongoing in the settlement, with Ukrainian and russian units operating intermingled, while a conventional front line is effectively nonexistent. Pavlo Lakiichuk, head of security programs at the Strategy XXI Center for Global Studies and a reserve first-rank captain of the Ukrainian Navy, told OstroV this.

According to him, reports about control over Kostiantynivka circulated by various sources do not reflect the actual situation on the battlefield.

"Some say the russians control 90% of Kostiantynivka, others claim Ukrainian forces hold 70%. In reality, neither of these statements reflects what is happening in the city", - the expert noted.

To describe the current situation, Lakiichuk uses the term "salad" which, he said, he had previously used during the fighting for Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad.

"If you mark the positions of Ukrainian and russian assault groups, drone operators, and other units on a map, they are literally mixed together. Each group has no clearly defined rear, front, or flanks—enemy units may be operating right next to them. This applies to both Ukrainian and russian forces", - he explained.

For this reason, the expert stressed, it is incorrect to speak of either side having full control over the city at this time.

"You cannot say that the russians have captured Kostiantynivka. But by the same token, you cannot say that Ukrainian forces control the city in the classical sense. Entirely different kinds of urban battles are taking place there", - Lakiichuk said.

At the same time, he pointed out that such fighting cannot continue indefinitely and will eventually have to end with a decision by one of the sides.

The expert recalled that during the battles for Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad there were statements about a possible withdrawal of Ukrainian units, but implementing such a plan under these conditions is extremely difficult.

"When units have become so thoroughly intermingled, organizing a withdrawal is very difficult. There are two options: either bring in additional forces and push the enemy back, or the enemy will gradually build up its strength inside the city, which will significantly worsen the situation for Ukrainian units", - he explained.

In Lakiychuk's view, the Ukrainian military command will soon face a difficult choice.

"The Commander-in-Chief will have to resolve an extremely difficult command dilemma. Either the enemy will become exhausted during the fighting for Kostiantynivka and will no longer be able to continue its offensive, or a decision will have to be made to withdraw troops to the next defensive lines in order to preserve personnel and continue containing the advance of the russian army from there", -the expert concluded.