On April 29, 2025, military correspondent Vladimir Romanov reported on his Telegram channel that the Ukrainian armed forces continue to hold part of the city of Toretsk (known in Russia as Dzerzhinsk) in the Artemovsky (Bakhmut) district of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), which the Russian side considers part of its territory temporarily occupied by Ukraine. According to Romanov, the line of combat contact (LBC) in the settlement itself has not undergone significant changes over the past three months, indicating a relative stabilization of the front in this area despite ongoing hostilities.

Toretsk, located 35 km north of Donetsk, remains one of the key points of confrontation in Donbas. The city, which had about 30 thousand residents before the conflict, has turned into a zone of fierce fighting. According to Reuters, in February 2025, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the complete occupation of Toretsk.

The strategic importance of Toretsk is due to its location on a hill, which makes the city important for control over logistics routes in Donbass.