Russian forces enter key eastern Ukrainian city of Toretsk | News about the Russia-Ukraine war

The Ukrainian military describes the situation as “unstable” and is fighting at “every entrance” to the front-line city, while Russia continues to make progress on the eastern front.

Russian forces have reached the edge of the long-disputed strategic city of Toretsk in eastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military confirmed late Monday that there was fighting in the city. Torestsk is the latest key location that Russian troops have reached in recent weeks, furthering Moscow's bid to take control of the Donetsk region.

“The situation is unstable, fighting is taking place literally at every entrance (to the city),” Anastasiia Bobovnikova, spokeswoman for the Luhansk operational tactical group, told Ukrainian national broadcaster. “The Russians have entered the eastern outskirts of the city.”

Russian officials have not yet commented on the development.

Big step

Toretsk, a mining town near Donetsk region territories captured by Russian-backed separatists in 2014, has been on the front lines for a decade.

Moscow's forces have been advancing on the city since August, steadily capturing surrounding villages with the help of infantry, supported by increased use of highly destructive guided bombs.

Toretsk was once home to more than 30,000 residents and thousands reportedly still live in the area.

Ukrainian military analysts warn that if Torezk, which sits on high ground, falls, Moscow could block Ukrainian supply routes to the front.

Last week, Russian forces took full control of the strategically important mountain town of Vuhledar, a development that Moscow had long viewed as a key step toward incorporating the entire Donetsk region.

Russia declared the annexation of four regions in eastern Ukraine – Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhia – in 2022, although it did not have full control over any of them.

Rapid advance

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, heavy fighting also raged on the front between Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.

On Friday, the Ukrainian military said its forces repelled 30 attacks on the Pokrovsk Front the previous day as Russian forces advanced on the villages of Mykolaivka and Selydove.

With superior numbers and resources, Moscow's troops have advanced since August at the fastest pace in more than two years without letting up, even as Ukrainian troops made a surprise move into Russia's Kursk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered military leaders to “do everything that can be done” to stem Moscow’s advance along the front line.

Kiev has called on Western powers to supply more long-range weapons to stop Russian attacks and force peace, at a crucial moment for the Ukraine war ahead of the US election.

On Saturday, the leaders of Ukraine's key allies, including US President Joe Biden, will meet at a US base in Ramstein, Germany.