On 24 October, Russian forces conducted 11 assault operations in the areas of Toretsk and Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, according to Anastasiia Bobovnikova, spokesperson for the “Luhansk” Operational-Tactical Group, according to UkrInform.

Toretsk, a Ukrainian stronghold since Russia’s first invasion of Donbas in 2014, is a strategically important settlement. Control of the city would give Russian forces a foothold to advance further into Ukrainian-held territory in Donetsk Oblast, a key objective in their military campaign.

The capture of Chasiv Yar would allow the Russian military to launch an offensive against other cities in the region—Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk.

In April 2024, Ukrainian Army Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn said that the city’s loss would seriously complicate the situation for Ukrainian forces, as all logistics routes in the area would be in Russia’s hands.

Russian military targets Chasiv Yar, key Ukrainian stronghold in Donetsk Oblast

“The most difficult situation is currently reported near Chasiv Yar and Toretsk. Unfortunately, both settlements have been the hardest areas for quite some time. Near Chasiv Yar, slightly to the south in the Stupochky district, five assaults occurred today, and in the Toretsk area—six,” said Bobovnikova.

The Ukrainian military spokesperson said Russian groups consisting of infantry squads of three to five people attempt to storm and break through Ukrainian defenses without using equipment. Russian motorized rifle brigades are also stationed near Toretsk.

“The Russian military brings personnel to the front lines, mostly at night, replenishes losses, and from newly established positions, they then launch assaults on our troops,” the spokesperson explained.

Bobovnikova also noted that on the Siversk front, Russian occupiers are using golf carts and motorcycles for assaults, trying to capture as much territory as possible before winter.

“There are many Russian troops there. For example, a Russian airborne division is stationed opposite Chasiv Yar.

The Russian airborne units are better supplied with equipment and are trying to accumulate more in forested terrain near Chasiv Yar.

However, a canal near Chasiv Yar prevents them from using equipment for assaults, as our artillery and drones control it,” Bobovnikova concluded.

Earlier, the Ukrainian spokesperson stated that the number of enemy assault actions had slightly decreased on the Kramatorsk, Toretsk, and Siversk fronts.

The situation in Toretsk has also stabilized, with the Ukrainian Defense Forces preventing Russians from advancing beyond the city’s eastern part.

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