Ukrainian Armed Forces explain why Russia is trying to seize Toretsk: Details

Russian forces are attempting to capture Toretsk and Chasiv Yar in order to outflank Kostyantynivka and continue their advance toward the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration.

This was stated by Sviatoslav Lesiuk, Deputy Commander for Psychological Support of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, during a broadcast on “We – Ukraine.”

“They don’t need the city as such — they need the territory and a pretext to report to Moscow that all of Donetsk region is under control. Taking Toretsk and Chasiv Yar is part of an operation to bypass Kostiantynivka from the flanks, then to capture Druzhkivka and Sloviansk, and to push forward from there. But it will definitely take them at least another year,” the serviceman stressed.

The battle for Toretsk has lasted nine months. According to Lesiuk, the situation is significantly more difficult than during the defense of Bakhmut.

“April 18 will mark nine months of holding Toretsk. For comparison, Bakhmut also held out for nine months, but there were no such intense urban battles there. Back then, the Russians bypassed the city from the flanks. Here, they entered Toretsk in July 2024, during a rotation of our units,” he said.

The occupiers managed to seize the city center, where administrative buildings and high-rises are located, allowing them to establish firing positions and shell Ukrainian fortifications.

“Our guys have to fight under extremely difficult conditions, but we are holding the defense,” the deputy commander concluded.