Moscow, Russia – Russia’s Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of rejecting a proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the eastern Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka.
According to Moscow, the ceasefire was intended to allow for the handover of
the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers killed in the fighting in the area.
Russia accuses Kyiv
The Russian Defense Ministry said Kyiv refused to halt its shelling of the town of Kostyantynivka and surrounding areas.
Despite this, Russia proposed a six-hour ceasefire on Monday to facilitate the handover of the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers.
The ministry added that it had given the Ukrainian side until 9:00 AM GMT to respond to the proposal.
According to the Russian account, Ukraine did not respond to the initiative.
Dispute over control of the town
This development comes after Russian military leaders announced
to President Vladimir Putin that they had taken control of the town of Kostyantinivka.
While Ukraine denied these statements, stressing that its forces still control the town and continue to confront Russian attacks.
Kostyantinivka is one of the strategic areas in the Donetsk region.
It represents a major target for Russia’s forces as part of its military operations in eastern Ukraine.
Fighting continues in eastern Ukraine
The dispute over a ceasefire and the handover of bodies reflects the continuing complexities of the military and humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine,
where fierce clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces persist on several fronts.
There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian side regarding Russia accusations.
Meanwhile, military operations continue in Donetsk, with both sides exchanging accusations
about who is responsible for the stalled humanitarian initiatives related to the fighting.
