Toretsk in ruins as Russian forces push forward and evacuation becomes nearly impossible — photos

The 93rd Mechanized Brigade’s aerial reconnaissance monitors Toretsk around the clock.

“The city has been completely destroyed by Russian forces. High-rise buildings are now just ruins, sometimes still smoldering. It seemed nothing could survive here, yet Ukrainian drone operators occasionally spot groups of residents who delayed evacuation to the point where it's nearly impossible,” the brigade reported.

The primary mission of aerial reconnaissance is to prevent Russian assault units from advancing. Russian troops attempt daily to push deeper into the city, often sheltering in basements before launching attacks on Ukrainian positions.

To counter Ukrainian drones, Russian forces frequently deploy electronic warfare systems. However, Ukrainian defenders say drone operators still track enemy movements, assisting artillery, air defenses, and FPV drone units in targeting Russian troops.