6 February 2025. Today, there is interesting news from Toretsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Here, as Russian forces intensify their efforts to capture Toretsk, Ukrainian defenders continue to hold on to formidable strongholds in the city, preventing any significant Russian breakthrough. With the enemy attempting to push westward, elite Ukrainian assault squads conduct devastating raids on Russian positions to prevent them from taking control of the city.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Ukrainian forces block Russian advance in Toretsk
The main goal for Ukrainians is to keep Russian forces contained within Toretsk, preventing them from using the city as a staging ground for further advances westward. If Russians secure the outskirts, they could exploit roads and open terrain to push westward, threatening Ukrainian defenses. By holding strong positions and launching raids in the city, Ukrainian troops keep the fighting contained, denying Russians the ability to break out into more favorable terrain.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
To achieve this, Ukrainian forces have withdrawn to defensible strongholds within the city’s outer edges, allowing them to concentrate their firepower and resources more effectively. In addition to static defense, they conduct frequent mechanized raids into the outskirts, preventing the enemy from consolidating control over it.
One of the biggest challenges Ukrainian defenders face is the sheer numerical superiority of Russian forces. The enemy has been able to flood Toretsk with infantry, sweeping through the suburbs and finding gaps in the Ukrainian lines. Reports indicate that Russian troops often advance in small groups of 3–4 men, moving in waves to wear down Ukrainian defenses. While this strategy comes at a high cost in Russian casualties, it leads to near-continuous engagements.
To adapt to the Russian strategy, Ukrainian forces have maximized their defensive ability by concentrating their forces around several strongholds in the city, closing off gaps previously exploited by Russian troops. Ukrainians also have well-defensible fortifications built up behind these strongholds, securing their rear from Russian flanking attacks.
Intense clashes have erupted in Toretsk’s northern industrial sector, where Russian forces are attempting to push forward but face fierce Ukrainian resistance. In one engagement, Russian troops breached a mine held by Ukrainian defenders, sparking a brutal close-quarters battle. Outnumbered and unable to suppress the assault with FPV drones alone, Ukrainian forces called in armored support. A tank arrived, shelling the Russian-held position and eliminating the attackers, securing the area once again.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Mechanized counterattacks and drone warfare to disrupt Russian offensives
Another significant advantage for Ukraine in Toretsk is the presence of elite brigades with superior training, armored vehicles, and advanced weapons systems. Additionally, Ukrainian drones dominate the skies over Toretsk, making it nearly impossible for Russian forces to deploy armor in support of their infantry, as soldiers on the ground report that Russians currently cannot move any vehicle through Toretsk without being hit.
Ukrainian forces have capitalized on Russian vulnerabilities by launching frequent mechanized raids against enemy positions on Toretsk’s outer edges. In one recent operation, Ukrainian troops used an Oncilla armored vehicle to mine a Russian position within a building, blowing it up, eliminating enemy forces, and discouraging them from reinforcing their positions.
In another assault, a combined force of a T-64 tank, a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, and a Senator MRAP launched an assault, with the tank opening fire with its main gun, drawing attention away from the assault group, allowing them to carry out their operation successfully, capturing four prisoners and clearing the area. These raids prevent Russian forces from consolidating their control, inflict heavy casualties, and disrupt enemy plans.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Recent Ukrainian operations have focused on targeting and engaging Russian troops before they can entrench themselves in buildings. In one instance, Ukrainian special forces conducted a nighttime raid on Russian positions, using suppressive fire to pin down enemy troops before clearing the building.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Active defense strategy delays Russian progress
Overall, while the situation in Toretsk remains difficult, Ukrainian forces are executing an effective active defense strategy by stalling Russian advances while reinforcing the next layer of defenses behind the city. With drone surveillance constantly monitoring Russian movements, Ukrainian forces strike at key moments, inflicting damage and retreating before the enemy can respond effectively.
This strategy has successfully contained the battle within Toretsk for weeks, preventing the enemy from breaking out into open terrain.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Every day the Ukrainians delay the Russian advance, which allows for a stronger defensive line to be built further in the west.
In our daily frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Related:
- Russians and Ukrainians advance near Donetsk’s Pokrovsk
- Russian ground assaults increase by 30% near Toretsk, double near Chasiv Yar since December
- Russians trapped in Donetsk’s Velyka Novosilka basements, Ukrainian brigade says
- ISW: Ukrainians advance in Kharkiv Oblast and near Donetsk’s Pokrovsk, Russians in few Donetsk directions
- ISW: Ukraine recaptures Toretsk positions amid Russian advances nearby
- ISW: Russian forces advance near Donetsk’s Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Velyka Novosilka
- Russian troops advance in Toretsk, three other settlements in Donetsk Oblast – DeepState
- ISW: Russian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast
- Ukraine regains ground near Chasiv Yar and Toretsk, while Russia advances on several fronts
