Kremlin Says Ready for Civilian Evacuation From Ukraine’s Kostiantynivka

Nov. 13, 2026 Nazar Vodzinsky (CC BY-SA 4.0) The Kremlin said on Friday that it is ready to carry out a humanitarian operation to evacuate civilians fro the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, following a similar model that was used last month in the town of Oleshky, if it receives appropriate security guarantees. President Vladimir Putin proposed the joint Russian-Ukrainian mission to U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Thursday, saying it would allow the world to understand who controlled Kostiantynivka. Putin’s aide Yury Ushakov claimed the U.S. envoys “actively supported” his idea. “We call on both the Americans and the Europeans — if claims that they are striving for peace are true — to use their influence specifically on the Ukrainians to push them toward implementing this humanitarian operation in Kostiantynivka,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing. Kyiv has expressed concerns that Moscow might wish to use ceasefires for such missions to enable its military to regroup. “Given that in Oleshky they brought in equipment and rotated troops under the cover of a humanitarian operation, it’s clear they want to do the same in Kostiantynivka,” Ukrainian presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said Thursday. Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, who oversaw the Oleshky mission with Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova, said Friday that Kostiantynivka “was not even mentioned” among the potential settlements where similar missions could be organized. Kremlin spokesman Peskov said concerns of a possible military rotation into the city were “beyond any criticism” because any movements would be “clearly visible from satellites and drones.” “If they believe we’ll it for troop rotation, then they’re agreeing that it is we who control Kostiantynivka,” he said. Putin told Kushner and Witkoff the mission could settle disputes over contested “gray zones” along the frontline. “If, as the Ukrainian authorities claim, they control this town, let them ensure security there. I believe this town is controlled by Russian troops,” Putin said. “We will ensure security on our side. We need five days to de-mine the access roads to the town. If Ukraine controls it, let them do the same,” he said. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Ukraine war , Kremlin Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Trump Says Zelensky and Putin Must ‘Get Together’ "President Putin and President Zelensky are going to have to get together. Because you know what? We want to stop killing millions of people," Trump told... 3 Min read Feature Kremlin Eyes Grand Bargain as Trump Pushes for Rushed Ukraine Peace Deal Russian officials hope to take advantage of President Donald Trump’s eagerness to end the war in Ukraine to secure a favorable deal for itself. 4 Min read Russia Will ‘Definitely’ Respond to Ukraine ATACMS Strike, Kremlin Says The comments come as both sides have escalated aerial attacks recently. 2 Min read Feature Kremlin Brings ‘Party of War’ to Heel Ahead of Key Regional, Presidential Elections The Kremlin seeks to deploy the same tactics it used to crush the opposition against prominent far-right “patriots,” Russian officials told The Moscow... 4 Min read