Toretsk

Toretsk Торецьк
City
Church of St. Macarius in Toretsk
Flag Coat of arms
Toretsk Show map of Donetsk Oblast Toretsk Show map of Ukraine
Coordinates: 48°23′30″N37°52′24″E / 48.39167°N 37.87333°E / 48.39167; 37.87333
Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Donetsk Oblast
Raion	Bakhmut Raion
Hromada	Toretsk urban hromada
Founded	1806
City rights	1938 [1]
Microdistrict/Microraion [2]	Fomiha Microraion [3] Krymske Microraion Nakhalivka Microraion Zabalka Microraion
Government
• Head	Vasil Chynchyk
Area
• Total	62 km2 (24 sq mi)
Elevation	179 m (587 ft)
Population
• Total	Around 40 (2022 population 30,914)
Postal code	85200—85279
Area code	+380-6247
Climate	Dfb
Website	http://toretsk-rada.gov.ua/

Toretsk (Ukrainian : Торецьк; Russian : Торецк) is an industrial city in Bakhmut Raion, Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. It served as the administrative center of Toretsk urban hromada. As of January 2022, its population was approximately 30,914. ^[4]

It has its origins as the hamlet Shcherbynivka, ^[a] built during the mid-19th century developments in coal mining in the Donbas region. It developed over the following century with the rise of rail transport. Between 1936–2016, the city was named Dzerzhynsk ^[b] after Felix Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet security service Cheka. The city received its current name in 2016, as a result of decommunization laws.

Toretsk has seen fighting and shelling during the War in Donbas, in the first phase of the Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014, which has depopulated and heavily damaged the infrastructure of the city over the years. On 7 February 2025, during the months-long Battle of Toretsk, part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia claimed it had fully occupied the city of Toretsk, although this was denied by Ukraine. ^[5] Due to the fighting, the city was ruined and virtually entirely depopulated. Russia calls Toretsk by its pre-2016 name Dzerzhinsk ^[c] and considers it to be part of the Donetsk People's Republic, which it claims to have annexed. ^{[6] [7]}

Geography

Toretsk is located on the right bank of the Kryvyi Torets river, which is a tributary of the Kazennyi Torets. ^[1] It is located in the historical, cultural, and economic Donbas region within eastern Ukraine. ^[8]

History

Early history

The territory where Toretsk now sits has been inhabited since ancient times, as discovered with archaeological findings. The city itself was founded in 1806 in the Russian Empire, when parts of the town Zaitseve were split off into several minor hamlets, including Shcherbynivskyi. According to local traditions, this name originates from a similarly-named Cossack outpost in the area. In the late 1830s, coal deposits were discovered in the area, and the area was developed for coal mining. Shcherbynivskyi and neighboring villages were united into a village named Shcherbynivka, which became part of Bakhmut uezd. ^[1]

In 1869, the Kursk-Kharkiv-Azov Railway was built, which passed near Shcherbynivka, significantly contributing to the economic development of the town. ^[1]

20th century

Shcherbynivka changed hands several times during the Russian Civil War of 1917–1923, before eventually being captured by the Bolsheviks, who established the communist Soviet Union on much of the former territory of the Russian Empire. ^[8] In 1936, Shcherbynivka was renamed to Dzerzhynsk after Felix Dzerzhinsky. ^{[1] [8]} Dzerzhinsky was the founder of the Cheka secret police in the USSR, and architect of the Red Terror. ^[9] It also received city status. ^{[1] [8]} A local newspaper began being published in the town in September 1936. ^[10]

During World War II, Dzerzhynsk was occupied by Nazi Germany from 22 October 1941 to 5 September 1943. During the occupation, the Germans killed 150 civilians and deported 1,460 for forced labor to Germany. ^[1] The Germans operated a subcamp of the Stalag 378 prisoner-of-war camp in the town. ^[11]

According to the 1989 Soviet census, Dzerzhynsk's population was 50,538 people. ^{[12] [13]}

21st century

In the 2001 census, Dzerzhynsk's population was 43,371 ^[14] and by 2013 had declined to 35,296 people. ^[15]

Following the 2015 law on decommunization, the city council decided on 16 October 2015 to rename the city to Toretsk. ^[16] The name was approved by the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament) on 4 February 2016. ^[17]

In August 2016, Toretsk mayor Volodymyr Sleptsov was arrested on separatism charges due to his ties to the Donetsk People's Republic in 2014; Serhiy Vinnyk became acting mayor. ^{[18] [ needs update ]}

In 2020, Toretsk became the center of Toretsk urban hromada within Bakhmut Raion, in accordance with nationwide administrative reforms. ^{[19] [20]}

Russo-Ukrainian War

War in Donbas

Starting in mid-April 2014, during the beginning of the war in Donbas, Russia-backed paramilitaries captured several towns in Donetsk Oblast, including Dzerzhynsk. ^[21] On 21 July, Ukrainian forces recaptured the city. ^{[22] [23] [24]} As a result of the conflict, the city had its water supply cut multiple times during the war due to constant shelling by Russian-backed separatists, which prevented repairs as of November 2016. ^[18]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Main article: Battle of Toretsk

Buildings damaged by Russian shelling, October 2023

A residential building in Toretsk after Russian shelling in December 2023

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022, Russian forces advanced through Donetsk Oblast towards the city. Half of the pre-war population of 32,000 had fled the city by April 2022, and those that remained were impoverished and lacking in basic resources. ^[21] Numerous civilians were killed as a result of Russian strikes. ^{[25] [26]} Toretsk civil-military administration head Vasyl Chynchyk announced in July 2023 that open-air markets in the city would be closed due to the extreme danger from Russian attacks. The administration continued slowly evacuating people westward. There had been no water or gas supply in a year and a half as of July 2023. ^[27]

In June 2024, Toretsk came under increased Russian pressure, as part of a renewed campaign to capture the city and its surrounding villages. ^[28] As of October, Russia fully or almost completely controls Toretsk's eastern outskirt settlements of Pivnichne, Zalizne, Druzhba, and Pivdenne, ^[29] while also advancing into the center of Toretsk. ^[30] By that time, Ukrainian military officials estimated the city population to have decreased to around 1,150. ^[31] By January 2025, Russian forces controlled the urban area of Toretsk, ^[32] with fighting ongoing around the city and its northern outskirts. ^[33] Ukrainian forces indirectly admitted that most of the city was no longer controlled by Ukraine. ^[32] On 7 February, Russia claimed that the city had been fully captured by its forces, although this was denied by Ukraine. ^[5]

Economy

A large sign reading "Toretsk is a town of miners"

The industries of the city formerly included coal mining, the production of coke chemical, ceramics, and phenol. ^{[34] [ full citation needed ]}

Education

Toretsk had a mining tekhnikum, a music school, and a medical school. ^[34]

Demographics

Population history

Year	Pop.	±%
1926	18,886 [8]	—
1989	50,538 [12]	+167.6%
2001	43,371 [1]	−14.2%
2013	35,296 [35]	−18.6%
2022	30,914 [4]	−12.4%
2024	1,150 [31]	−96.3%

As of the 2001 Ukrainian census, the majority of residents identified as ethnic Ukrainians and spoke Russian as their first language: ^[36]

The city became practically entirely depopulated as result of the Russian bombardment and months-long assault on the city. Amid heavy fighting, the city population decreased to about 1,150 according to a statement by the Ukrainian military administration on 11 October, 2024, ^[31] down from the estimated 1,600 by 13 September following an organised evacuation of at least 8,000. ^[37] The estimated number of residents further decreased to 126 by January 2025, ^[38] to 48 by March, ^[39] and to around 40 by April. ^[40]

Ethnicity

• Ukrainians: 61.4%
• Russians: 36.1%
• Belarusians: 1%
• Tatars: 0.3%
• Romani: 0.3%

First language

• Russian: 87.1%
• Ukrainian: 12.2%
• Romani: 0.2%
• Belarusian: 0.1%
• Armenian: 0.1%

Notable people

• Nikolai Ryzhkov (1929–2024), former Premier of the Soviet Union
• Raisa Azarh (1897–1971), Soviet physician
• Ihor Voronkov (born 1981), Ukrainian footballer

Gallery

• 
  City entrance in 2008 when it was called Dzerzhynsk
• 
  Toretsk Avanhard Stadium
• 
  An apartment block in Toretsk
• 
  Ukraine Palace of Culture
• 
  Ukraine Palace of Culture interior
• 
  Buildings in downtown
• 
  Toretsk phenol factory club
• 
  Phenol factory building
• 
  Toretsk railway station
• 
  Crying mother monument

Notes

1. Ukrainian: Щербинівка; Russian: Щербиновка, romanized: Shcherbinovka.
2. Ukrainian: Дзержинськ; Russian: Дзержинск, romanized: Dzerzhinsk.
3. According to Russian transliteration

References

1. Пасенюк, В. В.; Сліпцов, В. М. (2007-02-01). "Дзержинськ". Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Vol. 7. Інститут енциклопедичних досліджень НАН України. ISBN   978-966-02-2074-4.
2. https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-30-2025
3. https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-14-2025
4. Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2022 [Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2022](PDF) (in Ukrainian and English). Kyiv: State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2022.
5. "Russia says it has captured strategic city of Toretsk, Ukraine denies it". Reuters . 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
6. "IN BRIEF: What is known about liberation of Dzerzhinsk in Donetsk People's Republic". TASS. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
7. "Russia says it has captured strategic city of Toretsk, Ukraine denies it". Reuters. 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
8. "Дзержинськ, Донецька область". Історія міст і сіл Української РСР (in Ukrainian).
9. Carr, Barnes (2016). Operation Whisper: The Capture of Soviet Spies Morris and Lona Cohen. University Press of New England. pp. 11–13. ISBN   978-1-61168-939-6.
10. № 2683. Дзержинский шахтёр // Летопись периодических и продолжающихся изданий СССР 1986 - 1990. Часть 2. Газеты. М., «Книжная палата», 1994. стр.352
11. Megargee, Geoffrey P.; Overmans, Rüdiger; Vogt, Wolfgang (2022). The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. p. 378. ISBN   978-0-253-06089-1.
12. Дзержинск // Большой энциклопедический словарь (в 2-х тт.). / редколл., гл. ред. А. М. Прохоров. том 1. М., "Советская энциклопедия", 1991. стр.386
13. "19A0501_06. Кількість наявного та постійного населення за статтю та типом поселень (0,1,2,3)". 2001 Ukrainian Census. 2001. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
14. "19A0501_031. Кількість наявного населення за статтю та типом поселень (0,1,2,3)". 2001 Ukrainian Census . 2001. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
15. "Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2013 року. Державна служба статистики України. Київ, 2013. стор.51" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
16. "Дзержинск решили переименовать в Торецк". 16 October 2015.
17. Decommunisation continues: Rada renames several towns and villages, UNIAN (4 February 2016)
    "Rada de-communized Artemivsk as well as over hundred cities and villages" (in Ukrainian). Pravda.com.ua. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
18. "People in Toretsk struggle as shelling cuts off water supply (PHOTOS) - Nov. 27, 2016". 27 November 2016.
19. "Бахмутський район". Децентралізація в Україні. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
20. "Торецька територіальна громада". Децентралізація в Україні. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
21. "'Constantly depressing': Ukrainian town watches war close in". 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
22. "War Grinds on: Volunteers doing work of government in Dzerzhynsk - May. 14, 2015". 14 May 2015.
23. "Separatists retreat from Dzerzhynsk - Jul. 21, 2014". 21 July 2014.
24. We Can Win After All, The Ukrainian Week (6 August 2015)
25. "Dozens of Soldiers Freed in Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Swap". 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
26. "Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 628". The Guardian. 2023-11-13. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-11-22.
27. de Vega, Luis (2023-07-27). "Hairdresser open, market closed: the double reality of Toretsk, at the gates of the Bakhmut front" . Retrieved 2023-11-22.
28. Evans, Angelica; Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Barros, George (18 June 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 18, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
29. "Russian forces enter Toretsk as battles rage in Donetsk region". Euronews . 2024-10-08.
30. Kagan, Frederick W.; Mappes, Grace; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Evans, Angelica; Gasparyan, Davit; Bailey, Riley (21 September 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 21, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
31. Fornusek, Martin (11 October 2024). "Ukraine holds 40-50% of Toretsk, official says". Kyiv Independent . Retrieved 10 April 2025.
32. Wilk, Andrzej; Żochowski, Piotr (2025-01-21). "Britain pledges a century of support for Ukraine. Day 1063 of the war". Centre for Eastern Studies . Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
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34. "Dzerzhynsk". Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine . 1984.
35. "Dzerzhynsk". Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine .
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37. Vladislava (2024-09-13). "1,600 people remaining in Toretsk amid intense fighting". Букви. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
38. "В Курахово Донецкой области остаются 300 человек. Город почти полностью оккупирован". hromadske (in Russian). 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
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40. Kosharna, Olga (2025-04-16). "40 people still remain in Toretsk, no undamaged buildings are left in city – RMA". Censor.net.