Russia captures half of strategic fortress, Ukraine's defense line is in danger

Russian air defense missile system (Photo: Sputnik).

"It can be said that about 40-50% of the city is under the control of the Ukrainian armed forces, while the remaining territory is occupied by the enemy," Vasyl Chynchyk, head of the Toretsk city military administration, told Ukrainian state television on October 11.

Military analysts say capturing the Toretsk hilltop would allow Russian forces to further complicate the logistical supply lines to Ukrainian forces across much of the eastern front.

The Ukrainian military reported eight clashes on the Toretsk front over the past day, with the main attack focused on the city of Toretsk and near Shcherbynivka. Mr Chynchyk said Russian forces had not entered the city in the past 24 hours.

Mr Chynchyk confirmed that about 1,150 people remained in the besieged city, while evacuations continued with the help of Ukrainian soldiers and police.

The city of Toretsk, located in the heart of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), has become one of the main flashpoints of conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces in recent weeks.

Locations in Eastern Ukraine (Photo: BBC).

According to reports from the front, Russian units are conducting active combat operations in all neighborhoods of the city of Toretsk, with the main forces focusing on attacking industrial and residential areas. The breakthrough was achieved thanks to powerful artillery strikes and air support, allowing the Russian troops to advance deeper into the city.

Military experts say that controlling Toretsk opens up important strategic directions for the Russian army to continue its offensive. The city is located near the front line and serves as an important supply center for Ukrainian forces. Control of the city could create favorable conditions for encircling Ukrainian units stationed in the area.

Fighting in Toretsk, a Ukrainian stronghold, has been ongoing since 2014 after conflict broke out between government forces and separatists in Donbass.

For most of the first two years after Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine in early 2022, the city remained out of sight until June this year, when Russia stepped up its attacks.

Earlier this month, Ukraine lost Vuhledar, another mining town 80km southwest of Toretsk in Donetsk. Moscow has stepped up its offensive on Toretsk since capturing Vuhledar, pushing deeper into the heart of Donetsk.

Besides Toretsk, the current hot spots of fighting are the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove regions to the west and southwest of Toretsk. However, there are signs that Russia could launch a new offensive elsewhere to further stretch the Ukrainian army, according to Western and Ukrainian military experts.

Fears are growing that the Ukrainian frontline could collapse, as Russia continues to advance towards the strategic city of Pokrovsk, which could see Moscow achieve a breakthrough westward and consolidate its bid to take control of the entire Donetsk region.

For Moscow, capturing Toretsk would bring its goal of controlling the entire Donbass closer. Russia has so far almost completely controlled Lugansk, part of Donbass, and is accelerating its advance towards Donetsk.

The Donbass region (including Lugansk and Donetsk) in eastern Ukraine is an important industrial center of Kiev, so losing this region would be a huge loss for Ukraine.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-gianh-nua-phao-dai-chien-luoc-phong-tuyen-ukraine-nguy-cap-20241011155339837.htm