(CLO) The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that its forces had taken control of the strategic coal mining city of Toretsk in eastern Ukraine.
However, the Ukrainian army denied this information and affirmed that fierce fighting was still taking place in and around the city.
The city of Toretsk, Ukraine is now just ruins. Photo: X
Toretsk is one of the key points in the Russian offensive, alongside other important logistical centers such as Kramatorsk and Kostyantynivka to the northwest and Pokrovsk further west.
The Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement late in the day that Russian forces had launched 10 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Toretsk region.
The statement said Ukrainian forces had repelled all Russian attacks.
Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the Khortytsya combat group, the defense forces of eastern Ukraine, said fierce fighting was taking place in residential areas of the city. "The enemy is carrying out large-scale offensive operations, concentrating all its forces and means in this area. The Ukrainian defense forces are resisting the overwhelming strength of the Russian troops, causing heavy losses in manpower and equipment to the enemy."
Ukrainian military analysts say that if Russia takes control of Toretsk, which is located on high ground, it could further complicate Ukraine's logistics system in the eastern region.
In addition, controlling Toretsk would give the Russian army the opportunity to advance further northwest, towards the important logistics hub of Kostiantynivka, which connects to many other key cities.
Most of the civilian population in Toretsk has long since left or been evacuated. Many buildings in the city have been completely destroyed or severely damaged by the fighting.
Cao Phong (according to AJ, CNN, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nga-tuyen-bo-chiem-duoc-thanh-pho-chien-luoc-toretsk-post333585.html
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