Toretsk is not occupied: why Russia launched a fake about the capture of the city

The city of Toretsk in Donetsk region continues to be under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The aggressor country needed the fake about its "capture" to try to divert the attention of its population from the army's losses in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.

Major Viktor Tregubov, spokesman for the Khortytsia operational and strategic group of troops, said this on the Suspilne.Novyny TV channel. He reminded that heavy urban fighting in this area of the front line has been going on for a long time.

"It seems to me that this is an attempt to distract from some of the noticeable failures that the Russians have had these days. First of all, from the fact that they have failed in the Kursk region. They had to give their population something positive. And they gave it," the military explained the Russian propaganda.

He emphasized that despite the heavy fighting in Toretsk, which has been going on for months, there is no question of Russian control over the city.

"They just needed to nail down the information agenda of their own losses in the Kursk region. And they started telling the population about some kind of control..." Tregubov added.

On February 9, the official Telegram channel of the Khortytsia separate military unit called "Khortytsky wind" reported that Russian commanders were sending new waves of their infantry to carry out suicidal attacks and assaults in the Toretsk sector. The occupiers, in the absence of sufficient armored vehicles, use ordinary passenger cars for this purpose, which even makes the work of the Defense Forces easier.

"When the enemy's assault vehicles finally stop after the drone strikes, FPV pilots begin to methodically destroy the still living invaders. Near the village of New York, the occupants tried to break through to the positions of the Defense Forces, including in cars. As a result, not only the equipment, but also the attack aircraft themselves were burned," the military said, showing a video of combat operations.

Dmytro Zaporozhets, spokesman for the Luhansk operational and tactical group, said that the Russian army is currently aiming to capture strongly defended Ukrainian positions in Toretsk. These are the directions of Tsentralna and Toretska mines.

"How does the enemy act? It accumulates forces in the eastern part of Toretsk, near the penal colony, then moves to the central part, near the library, and then conducts assault operations in the direction of 1.5 km of range," he explained.

According to him, the occupants use the same tactics when storming the positions of the Defense Forces in the Zabalka area. In addition, Russian tactical aviation has recently become "too active".

"Such activation resulted in the Toretsk sector yesterday," emphasized the spokesman, referring to the downing of a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft by Ukrainian Armed Forces and the possible damage to an enemy Mi-8 helicopter.

As a reminder, the Russians claimed to have "captured" Toretsk, a city that was reduced to rubble by their shelling, for several days. However, the Ukrainian Defense Forces denied the fake, saying that the fighting in the city is ongoing and that Ukrainian units continue to resist the enemy.

On February 8, the Russian Armed Forces conducted nine attacks in the Toretsk sector near Krymske and Toretsk.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, analysts at the Institute for War Studies suggested that Russia may be moving forces from near Kurakhove to Toretsk, including units of at least five military formations. This is probably how the aggressor hopes to facilitate its offensive operations against Kostiantynivka in the spring and summer of 2025.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!