The Russian military has seized control of the village of Torske in Ukraine’s northern Donetsk region—an area that has been fiercely contested since 2022—as part of a broader offensive gaining momentum along the eastern front.
On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the capture of Torske, a village that had exchanged hands multiple times since the early months of the war. Russian forces initially took control of Torske in spring 2022, but Ukrainian forces recaptured it in October of that year during their successful Kharkiv counteroffensive.
The frontlines eventually stabilized roughly five miles (7 km) outside the village, and despite repeated Russian attempts to retake it over the past two and a half years, Ukrainian defenses held firm—until now.
Earlier this year, Russian troops managed to seize parts of the village but were nearly expelled during the Easter ceasefire declared by Moscow. Once the ceasefire ended, Russia resumed its advance, culminating in the full capture of the settlement this week.
Torske's fall comes as Russian forces continue to reclaim territory lost during Ukraine’s 2022 counteroffensives. Their current objective appears to be the strategic city of Lyman, which Russia first captured in May 2022 before being forced to retreat in the fall. Retaking Lyman would bring Russian troops within approximately seven miles (11 km) of Slovyansk—a major Ukrainian military hub and symbolic site of the 2014 uprising following the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych.
In addition to Torske, Russian forces also captured the towns of Novoaleksandrovka and Zeleny Pole, further solidifying their gains in Donetsk.
While international focus remains on ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war—highlighted by possible multi-party talks in Istanbul—Russia has been steadily escalating its offensive over the past month following a relative winter lull.
Analysts have noted significant Russian force buildups, including the formation of two new reserve armies reportedly totaling 250,000 troops, as well as additional deployments in southern Ukraine along the Dnieper River. These moves have fueled speculation that Russia may be preparing for a major new offensive campaign.