As a result of successful offensive actions, Russian armed forces together with the volunteer formation "Veterans" liberated the city of Dzerzhinsk (Ukrainian name - Toretsk) in the Donetsk People's Republic. This was reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The offensive was carried out by units of the 1st, 9th and 132nd motorized rifle brigades of the 51st Army. After the capture of the city, the cleanup of the adjacent territory continues, in particular, the area of ​​the Toretskaya mine, where pockets of resistance of Ukrainian troops remain.

Dzerzhinsk is located seven kilometers from Gorlovka and is part of the Gorlovka-Yenakiyevo agglomeration. The city is of strategic importance, as it covers the logistics supply routes of the Ukrainian army. Its liberation will stop the shelling and drone strikes on residential areas of Gorlovka, which have continued for more than ten years.

As of mid-January 2025, Russian troops controlled about 95% of Dzerzhinsk, the enemy held positions in the area of ​​the Toretskaya mine and a small area of ​​the private sector. Advisor to the head of the DPR Igor Kimakovsky expressed confidence that Ukrainian troops will be forced to leave both Dzerzhinsk and Chasov Yar.

War correspondent Alexey Gavrish reported that in order to fully liberate Dzerzhinsk, Russian fighters must recapture the western part of the Toretskaya mine from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He noted that after taking this territory, it will be possible to talk about the final liberation of the city.

The liberation of Dzerzhinsk opens up opportunities for a further offensive by Russian troops to the northwest - to Konstantinovka, which serves as an important logistics hub for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The supply routes for Ukrainian troops in Chasov Yar and other settlements on the approaches to the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration pass through it.