Russian Forces Advance Toward Toretsk as Niu-York Falls
Ukrainian military sources appear to confirm that Russian forces have taken control of the small town of Niu-York in eastern Ukraine, intensifying the threat to the nearby city of Toretsk.
In a Thursday situation report, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff no longer referred to Niu-York as contested, signaling the town’s capture by Russian troops in the Donetsk region.
This development follows reports by Ukrainian war bloggers and Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov on Wednesday, both stating that Niu-York had fallen under complete Russian control.
Toretsk, an industrial city that has faced relentless Russian attacks, is now at heightened risk. Ukrainian forces report ongoing clashes in the surrounding towns of Pivnichne and Zalizne, as well as within Toretsk itself.
Meanwhile, in southern Russia, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at a military base, according to Volgograd regional governor Andrey Bocharov. Air defenses intercepted most of the drones, but a downed drone crash-landed, sparking the blaze.
Although details were scarce, Russian war bloggers identified the target as Marinovka Air Base, located 45 kilometers from Volgograd. Russian state news agency TASS reported temporary flight restrictions at Volgograd’s civilian airport due to the drone threat.
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed it intercepted 28 Ukrainian drones overnight, with 13 specifically targeting the Volgograd region. Ukraine has ramped up the production of long-range combat drones, using them to attack major infrastructure and military targets, including jets, ammunition depots, and fuel supplies.
Despite Ukraine’s drone strikes, the damage remains limited compared to Russia’s daily missile and drone assaults on Ukrainian cities, which frequently devastate civilian infrastructure and residential areas.
