KYIV, Ukraine: Russian forces have entered the outskirts of Toretsk, an eastern Ukrainian city on the frontline, just days after capturing Vuhledar.
Fighting is reported to be intense, with clashes at the city’s entrances. According to Anastasiia Bobovnikova, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Operational Tactical Group “Luhansk,” Russian troops have pushed into Toretsk’s eastern outskirts. Russian military sources, including the Rybar Telegram channel, confirm that troops are advancing toward the city’s center.
The capture of Toretsk, following Moscow’s recent victory in Vuhledar, demonstrates Russia’s military dominance in manpower and weaponry. Russia has been advancing steadily since August, using infantry forces and guided bombs to capture key villages near Toretsk. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has ordered military leadership to do everything possible to slow Moscow’s advances along the frontline.
Toretsk has held strategic importance for Ukraine since 2014, when nearby regions fell under Russian-backed separatist control. The city serves as a key fortification for Kyiv. If Russia successfully takes Toretsk, it would severely impact Ukrainian logistical routes and bring President Putin closer to securing the entire Donbas region.
After initially failing to seize Kyiv, Russia refocused its efforts on the Donbas region, making it the main theater of the conflict, with some of the largest battles in Europe occurring there. The fall of Toretsk would be a significant victory for Moscow in its quest to dominate eastern Ukraine.
