# Russian Gains Near Kostyantynivka, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk Put Ukraine’s Donbas Defenses Under Strain

*Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 6:12 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-09-06T06:12:55.908Z (4h ago)
**Category**: conflict | **Region**: Eastern Europe
**Importance**: 9/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/17015.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Russian forces are advancing around Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk after crossing the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas canal, exploiting gains in multiple sectors and increasing drone and artillery pressure on Ukraine’s last major fortified line in Donetsk Oblast.

Russian advances on several fronts in Donetsk Oblast are tightening pressure on Ukraine’s main defensive belt around Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, raising risks for both front-line troops and civilians.

In the Kostyantynivka area, Russian forces have shifted focus from seizing the remaining parts of the city to pushing forward on the flanks. After an earlier breakthrough toward Druzhkivka from the southwest, Russian units now hold most of Kostyantynivka, with fighting reported on some outer streets. They have also pushed the frontline across the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas canal, a key barrier in Ukraine’s earlier defensive plans.

Further south, in the Dobropillya direction, Russian troops have spent the last two weeks on continued assault operations, making new advances and deepening reconnaissance and sabotage infiltrations. In the northeast of that sector, they recaptured most of Kucheriv Yar and nearby forest positions, providing staging areas for moves north toward additional villages.

On the axes leading to Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, Russian forces have built on earlier gains. Over the last three weeks they consolidated positions in forests west of Kryva Luka, gained a foothold in Pyskunivka, and cleared positions along parts of Slovyansk’s southeastern defensive ring.

Ukrainian channels describe a growing number of strikes in and around the broader “fortress belt” in Donetsk Oblast. With Russian drone operators now able to work from newly captured positions beyond the canal, they have launched more frequent attacks on areas in and around these cities.

Together, these advances threaten the network of strongpoints and supply routes that Ukraine has used to anchor its defense in northern Donetsk. Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk and Slovyansk form a cluster of urban areas linked by roads and rail lines that support Ukrainian units across a wide sector of the front.

Strategically, any deeper Russian penetration around this belt would not only yield terrain but also weaken Ukraine’s ability to sustain a coherent line in the east. It would also carry symbolic weight, as these cities have long been central to Kyiv’s grip on this part of Donbas.

Indicators to watch include any confirmed Ukrainian withdrawals from parts of Kostyantynivka, attempts to counterattack around Kucheriv Yar or Pyskunivka, and changes in evacuation guidance for residents of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk. These will show how quickly the pressure on this defensive belt is building and how Kyiv plans to respond.