Russia Claims 13,500 Ukrainian Troops Killed in Single Battle for Konstantinovka
"The Russians are also saying, and I stress it is the Russians, that 13,500 Ukrainian troops or thereabouts died in the battle for Konstantinovka. I have stopped placing very much weight on the claims either side makes about the casualties that they say they have inflicted on the other in any one particular place or indeed in the war at all."
About this episode
Alexander Mercouris delivers a comprehensive analysis of escalating military and political developments in the Ukraine conflict, beginning with warnings about AI-generated impostor channels falsely representing his views. The episode centers on two massive Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv within four days, utilizing hundreds of Geran drones and approximately 70 ballistic and hypersonic missiles including Iskander and Zircon systems. Western defense officials acknowledged no Western air defense can intercept Zircon missiles, and Ukraine admitted failing to down a single ballistic or hypersonic missile during the latest attack. Mercouris reveals Poland secretly transferred Patriot interceptors to Ukraine at Germany's request without parliamentary approval, violating Polish law, after the U.S. depleted its own stocks during the Iran conflict. These missiles proved ineffective against Russian strikes. The episode's most significant revelation comes from Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, who declared the special military operation has become a real war due to Western satellite targeting and weapons provision, marking a potential shift toward formal war declaration. Former British naval commodore Steve Jeremy published an analysis warning European NATO forces would suffer catastrophic defeat in conventional war with Russia, describing scenarios of devastated European air forces, hypersonic strikes on infrastructure, U.S. withdrawal, and complete economic and political collapse. Mercouris reports Russia may be producing 25 or more Oreshnik hypersonic missiles monthly but has not yet deployed them, suggesting stockpiling before striking command bunkers. On the ground, Russia continues advances with Konstantinovka fallen despite Ukrainian denials, street fighting reported in Orikhiv, and imminent capture of Liman and Bilogorivka. Russia claims 13,500 Ukrainian troops died defending Konstantinovka. As NATO convenes in Ankara with President Trump meeting Zelensky, Mercouris predicts continued European support for Ukraine despite military realities, with Europe converting a 90 billion euro loan into 70 billion in direct taxpayer funding.
Key takeaways
- Dmitry Peskov declares Ukraine conflict has evolved from special military operation to real war with the West, signaling potential Russian policy escalation including formal war declaration and expanded targeting authority.
- Poland secretly transferred Patriot missiles to Ukraine at German request without parliamentary approval, violating constitutional law, after U.S. depleted stocks in Iran conflict; missiles proved ineffective against Russian hypersonic strikes.
- Russia conducted massive strikes on Kyiv using 70 ballistic and hypersonic missiles that Ukraine failed to intercept, demonstrating complete failure of Western air defense systems including Patriot batteries.
- Former British naval commodore Steve Jeremy warns European NATO members would suffer catastrophic defeat in conventional war with Russia, resulting in economic and political collapse across the continent.
- Russia reportedly producing at least 25 Oreshnik hypersonic missiles monthly but has not deployed them, suggesting strategic stockpiling before initiating strikes on Ukrainian command facilities.
- Russian forces captured Konstantinovka with Ukraine denying the loss despite extensive Russian documentation; Russia claims 13,500 Ukrainian troops killed in the battle and offered ceasefire to return bodies.
- Europe converting 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine into 70 billion direct taxpayer funding as financial markets show no interest in Ukrainian bonds, while Trump prepares to meet Zelensky and call Putin at NATO summit.