Toretsk ravaged by war: New images show devastation of Ukrainian city
Dramatic photos from the frontline: The Nexta channel presented what the Ukrainian city of Toretsk in the Donetsk region currently looks like. Nearly completely destroyed buildings and omnipresent smoke accompany those who decide to stay. The Russians bombard this city almost daily.
The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for over two years. The Russians are particularly attacking the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It is in the former region where the city of Toretsk is located. 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 the buildings are ruined. Before the war, this town was inhabited by over 30,000 people. Those who decide to stay must contend with many difficulties.
Mayor Vasyl Chynchyuk 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 remains under continuous shelling by Putin's soldiers.
According to Wikipedia, at least 36% of the city's residents 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 Dzerzhynsk in honour of Felix Dzerzhinsky. Previously, it was called Shcherbynivka. The city is mainly known for stone coal mining, coke-chemical plants, and the food industry.
The city has been occupied several times by Russian forces and even Nazi Germany. The occupiers also took Toretsk in 2014 after the outbreak of the war in Donbas. However, the Ukrainians quickly managed to retake the city.
Since then, there has been no fighting in this city. The conflict reached Toretsk again in February 2022 after the Russians entered the Donetsk region.
