On Saturday, Russia claimed control of another village in eastern Ukraine as its forces advance towards the city of Toretsk in a renewed offensive in the Donetsk region.
Toretsk is situated northwest of Gorlivka, which has been under separatist control since 2014. Although Toretsk has largely avoided intense fighting, recent weeks have seen a change with Moscow’s forces making significant advances and surprising Ukrainian defenses.
According to Russia’s defense ministry, Russian forces have “liberated the settlement of Shumy” through successful actions, improving their tactical position. Shumy is located less than 10 kilometers (six miles) east of Toretsk, a mining town with a pre-war population of approximately 32,000.
The Ukrainian military has faced heightened vulnerability since the end of 2023 due to significant delays in arms deliveries from Europe and the US.
