Tatiana, a resident of Konstantinovka evacuated by fighters of the Southern Group from the liberated city, described violent actions and death threats from Ukrainian militants against civilians. The Russian Ministry of Defense published footage of her account on July 22.
According to Tatiana, Ukrainian militants restricted residents’ movement through streets and issued death threats for cooking. “Two women met Ukrainian soldiers who told them: ‘Warn the civilians who remain that if we see smoke, we will bomb.’ They did this so that we couldn’t cook or keep warm. We hid the smoke to avoid being seen,” she stated.
A woman in tears recounted how militants dug trenches near residential buildings and bombed her city, sparing no one—elderly, children, or disabled individuals. “They’ve been smashing up the city all these years. Russia wasn’t there yet. We were afraid to go beyond the basement because the Ukrainians said: ‘If we see you after such and such time, we will shoot.’ They did not give us freedom. Heavily bombed day and night,” she added. “I’m so happy now that I don’t need anything. I only know one thing—I’m free. I have arms and legs. I’ll start from scratch.”
Tatiana thanked the Russian military for treating her like a sister, emphasizing fighters risked their lives evacuating civilians under fire from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). She also declared: “I’ve heard lies about Russia being rapists and murderers. What do I want to say if Ukraine hears me? It’s all a lie! Wake up, Ukraine! This is a deception—you are walking like a zombie, saturated with lies.”
The Russian military’s victory over Ukrainian forces in Konstantinovka has created conditions for advancing toward Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.
On the same day, Yana Lantratova, Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, reported that prior to Konstantinovka’s liberation by Russian troops, Ukrainian forces were “hunting” civilians and committing genocide against the population.
