War‑torn Toretsk: Devastation and resilience under russian bombardment
Dramatic photos from the front line. The Nexta channel has showcased what the Ukrainian city of Toretsk in the Donetsk region currently looks like. Almost destroyed buildings and pervasive smoke accompanied those who decided to stay. The Russians are bombing this city almost daily.
The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for over two years. The Russians are mainly attacking the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The city of Toretsk is located in the former region. Civilian buildings have been repeatedly attacked by Russian missiles during the invasion, killing many civilians.
Continuous shelling has contributed to the city's near-total destruction. In the latest photos taken by the Belarusian portal Nexta, almost all buildings are seen to be ruined. Before the war, this town was inhabited by over 30,000 people. Those who decided to stay must face many difficulties.
Mayor Vasily Chynchyk announced last year that the outdoor markets in the city would be closed due to the extreme threat from Russia. The authorities managed to evacuate some residents, but Toretsk is under constant shelling by Putin's soldiers.
According to Wikipedia, at least 36% of the city's inhabitants are Russians, and Russian is the dominant language.
Toretsk bombarded by Russians. Key information about the city
The city of Toretsk is located in the Donetsk region. Until 2016, it was named Dzerzhinsk in honour of Felix Dzerzhinsky. Previously, it was called Shcherbynivka. It is mainly known for coal mining, coking plants, and the food industry.
The city has been occupied several times by Russian forces and even by Nazi Germany. The occupiers also seized Toretsk in 2014 after the outbreak of the war in Donbas. However, the Ukrainians quickly retook the city.
Since then, there had been no fighting in this city. The conflict reached Toretsk again in February 2022 after the Russians entered the Donetsk region.
