Toretsk opens the way to the exit to the flank of the Kramatorsk group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — Ministry of Defense

The establishment of control over the city of Dzerzhinsk (Toretsk) in the DPR, which is an important node of the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, opens the way for the liberation of Konstantinovka and access to the flank of the enemy's Kramatorsk grouping. This is reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

"Like many other large cities of Donbass, the Kiev regime has turned it into a powerful fortified area with a developed network of underground communications. Almost every building was a well-equipped and protected long-term firing point in terms of engineering. For defense, terricons and mines located in the northern and western parts of the city were also used ... To hold Dzerzhinsk and other settlements included in the Toretsk agglomeration, the enemy pulled together an impressive force of eight brigades. Up to 50 battalions in total. The total number of enemy groups amounted to more than 40 thousand troops. Among them are the most motivated and nationalist formations loyal to the Bandera regime, including the Azov brigade❶, as well as units of foreign mercenaries," the ministry said in a statement.

It is noted that the Russian Armed Forces inflicted significant losses on the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the five months of fighting for Dzerzhinsk. The troops of the Kiev regime lost over 70% of the personnel of their grouping — more than 26 thousand military personnel. Daily losses of Ukrainian troops averaged about 200 people killed and wounded. More than 240 tanks and other armored vehicles were destroyed, as well as more than 340 field artillery guns and mortars.

"The area of the liberated dense urban development of Dzerzhinsk amounted to more than 50 square kilometers. In addition, during the operation to liberate the city of Dzerzhinsk, 11 settlements of the Toretsk agglomeration (urban community) and 139 square kilometers of territory were liberated. The overall advance of Russian troops into the depth of the enemy's defense amounted to more than 13 km," the Defense Ministry added.

Now the units of the Center group of forces continue to liberate the remaining settlements included in the Toretsk agglomeration.

As EADaily reported, as a result of active offensive actions of formations and military units of the Center group of forces in the Alexander-Kalinovsky direction, the city of Dzerzhinsk (Toretsk) was liberated, the Russian Defense Ministry reported today.

❶Terrorist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation