Intense drone fighting erupts in Ukrainian town of Kosťantynivka

Ukrainian forces have deployed mobile anti‑drone teams that, together with Western aid, are confronting a surge of Russian and Ukrainian unmanned aircraft. On 18 June 2026 Russian air‑defence reported destroying 992 Ukrainian drones, while Ukrainian sources indicate at least a thousand drones were launched that day, setting a new record for single‑day usage.

In the eastern front town of Kosťantynivka, Russian troops claim to have surrounded parts of the 100th mechanised brigade, but Ukrainian observers say only small, isolated units remain. The city has become a “no‑man’s‑land” where street‑by‑street fighting continues, with Russian infantry advancing only a few metres per day. The battle is viewed as a gateway to the Slovjansk‑Kramatorsk agglomeration, making Kosťantynivka a priority for Moscow. Ukrainian drone units operate ahead of the front line, and Turkish‑made drones have reappeared in the conflict. Overall, the Russian summer offensive remains slower than in previous years, with Russia gaining roughly 31 km² while Ukrainian counter‑offensives reclaim about 52 km² in the same period.