Russia tries to flank Toretsk amid intensified street fighting

“The fighting in Toretsk has intensified recently,” said Sviatoslav Lesiuk, deputy commander of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of Ukraine’s 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, during a national TV broadcast. “It’s clear the enemy regrouped and received reinforcements. Back in early February, they rushed to report to Moscow that Toretsk had been taken. In reality, nothing of the sort happened—and now they’re throwing in extra forces to continue assaults in the city.”

Lesiuk added that Russian troops are focusing on flanking the city.

“The enemy is trying to bypass Toretsk from the sides,” he said. “But neighboring brigades are actively holding them off and not letting them advance.”

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on March 28 that Ukrainian forces had recently made limited gains near Toretsk, as well as near Pokrovsk and Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast.

Earlier this month, on March 16, analysts from the DeepState project said Russian troops had destroyed the Centralna coal mine in Toretsk, turning it into rubble.

“That position is now hard for us to hold,” the analysts wrote, noting that Russian forces currently enjoy superior manpower in the area.

According to DeepState, Russian forces recently rotated in new units, bringing in elements of the 150th Motor Rifle Division to reinforce the front lines around the city.