The Russian forces are making a push to capture key Ukrainian towns in the Donbas.

The Ukrainian military is putting up a determined defense, but it likely won’t be able to hold on to its positions for too long and under the pressure of tens of thousands of Russians.

Chasiv Yar and Toretsk

“In the northern Donetsk region, fighting has continued for control of Chasiv Yar and Toretsk. Russia has been attempting to gain control of the two towns, which serve as the gateway to the Donetsk cities of Kramatorsk and Kostyantynivka, since early 2024,” the British Military Intelligence assessed in a recent estimate of the Ukrainian conflict.

The Russian forces have a strong foothold in both towns. For example, in Toretsk, the Russian military is within the settlement and controls a good portion of it. However, the difficult nature of urban combat coupled with Ukrainian determination to hold strongholds up until the very last moment means that Russian progress is slow—and costly.

“Russian forces attempted assaults in Chasiv Yar and Toretsk with armoured vehicles in late December 2024 and early January 2025. It is likely that these attacks were repelled in Chasiv Yar, but in Toretsk, Russia has continued to advance,” the British Military Intelligence added.

Before the war, the Donbas was Ukraine’s industrial heartland, and it also contains abundant natural resources. The region is comprised of two provinces, Donetsk and Luhansk, and is located in the southeastern part of Ukraine.

Pro-Russian separatist forces have been fighting the Ukrainian government with Moscow’s direct and indirect support since 2014. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, marked a renewed effort to capture the Donbas for the benefit of the Kremlin. The separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk even declared their independence, and Russian president Vladimir Putin used this as one of the pretexts for his illegal invasion.

“Russian forces likely control at least 70 per cent of Toretsk, and have made grinding progress through the town, but urban fighting has inhibited rapid advancement. In Chasiv Yar, the Siverski Donets-Donbas canal serves as the current line of control,” the British Military Intelligence added.

For the time being, the Ukrainian military is putting up a valiant and determined defense. For every mile the Russian forces capture, they pay a dear price in both men and heavy weapon systems. The total Russian casualties have surpassed 800,000 men killed and wounded.

“Advancing Russian forces are frequently targeted by Ukrainian UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] operators as they approach the canal. Russian forces have been attempting to interdict Ukrainian logistics routes in and out of these towns,” the British Military Intelligence stated.

However, without more troops and military aid, the Ukrainian military won’t be able to hold on to Chasiv Yar or Toretsk for too long.

A new U.S. administration means that there will be a reinvigorated push for peace negotiations between the two combatants. With that prospect in mind, it appears that the Russian leadership is trying to capture as much territory as possible, especially in the Donbas region, to leverage in potential negotiations.

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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