Ukraine retakes Toretsk as Russian forces falter
Strategic city sees fierce battles as Ukrainian troops push back Russian advances
A Ukrainian member an Azov Brigade drone team - callsign Sava, 21 - collects a surveillance drone after a flight near Russian positions, in the direction of Toretsk, eastern Donetsk region, on 4 February 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Azov Battalion became a household name in Ukraine weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 for its last-ditch defense of the southern city of Mariupol. It held out in bunkers beneath the city's sprawling metal works before surrendering to the Russian forces that had laid a brutal siege to the city, with most of the Azov fighters captured in the siege still in captivity. Since Mariupol, it is one of Ukraine's most celebrated and respected units, deployed to turn the tide of events in the most difficult areas of the front line.
Roman PILIPEY / AFP
Ukrainian forces have reclaimed ground in the embattled city of Toretsk, marking their second major advance in three weeks. Despite U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump’s claim that Ukraine is in a weak position, troops on the frontlines have continued their counteroffensive efforts.
As David Axe reported in Forbes, Ukrainian brigades, including the 92nd Assault Brigade and the 100th Mechanized Brigade, successfully pushed back Russian forces in the city, which had fallen to Russia in early February.
Toretsk, a key mining city in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, had been a focal point of bitter urban combat, with both sides leveling high-rises in the struggle for control. The Kremlin celebrated its capture on 7 February, only for Ukrainian troops to stage a counterattack weeks later.
Russian military bloggers inadvertently confirmed the extent of Ukraine’s advance, with footage showing Ukrainian forces deep within the city center. Reports from WarTranslated and Ukraine Control Map indicate that Russian troops are losing control, with some units potentially encircled.
Meanwhile, as Russian reinforcements shift from the Pokrovsk axis to bolster their failing positions in Toretsk, Ukrainian troops maintain momentum on multiple fronts. According to the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies, Russia’s focus has turned to the Novopavlivka and Toretsk directions after facing setbacks outside Pokrovsk.
However, their repositioning has yet to yield success, with Russian units reportedly in retreat. Despite ongoing manpower challenges, Ukraine’s forces remain on the offensive, countering claims that they are "buried" in the conflict.
(Sources: Archangel “Legion” Foundation, Center for Defense Strategies, Ukraine Control Map, WarTranslated, Foreign Policy)