Russia overwhelmingly attacks Donbass, Ukraine flees from strategic stronghold

Russian soldiers open fire on Ukraine at the front line (Photo: Sputnik).

"The enemy's situation in Toretsk is quite critical. They were forced to retreat. Currently, part of the units have left the city," Tass news agency (Russia) quoted a source from the Russian security forces as saying on October 13.

The security source added that the Ukrainian army was acting similarly to previous times when withdrawing in small groups from the city of Toretsk.

In a speech on the evening of October 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, areas partially controlled by Russian forces, Kiev forces faced very difficult conditions due to fierce Russian attacks.

"The resilience of our units is very important. Everything depends on our resilience," Mr. Zelensky stressed.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on October 11 that it had taken control of Ostrivske, a village on a reservoir near the town of Kurakhove. The area has been a key target for Russia in its offensive in Donetsk.

Ukraine has not acknowledged the loss of the village, but military bloggers have confirmed Russian advances in the area.

In a report late on October 11, the Ukrainian military General Staff recorded 47 clashes in the area around Kurakhove and another 27 in the Pokrovsk region to the northwest.

Location of regions in Eastern Ukraine (Photo: BBC).

Further northeast, in Toretsk, which both Ukrainian and Russian forces confirmed was partially under Russian control, the Ukrainian General Staff said Russian forces had launched 14 attacks, supported by air strikes.

The city of Toretsk, located in the heart of Donetsk, has become one of the main flashpoints between Russian and Ukrainian forces in recent weeks.

Vasyl Chynchyk, head of the Toretsk city military administration, said on October 11 that about 40-50% of the city of Toretsk was under the control of the Ukrainian armed forces, while the remaining territory was under Russian control.

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

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.

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.

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.

Earlier this month, Ukraine lost Vuhledar, another mining town 80km southwest of Toretsk. Moscow has stepped up its offensive on Toretsk since taking 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.

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.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-tien-cong-ap-dao-donbass-ukraine-rut-chay-khoi-thanh-tri-chien-luoc-20241013143145153.htm