[13] The first offensive engagements in the direction of Toretsk by the Russian Armed Forces began on 18 June 2024, when the settlements of Pivdenne, Pivnichne, and Niu-York saw the first assaults in recent months.

[14][15] Ukrainian officials the same day reported a "sudden increase" in Russian attacks in the main city's direction.

Russia continued to assault the settlements coming under fire the previous day, and in addition the localities of Zalizne, Druzhba, and Shumy.

[19][20] On 23 June, the claims of Russian advances in Pivnichne, in addition to the seizure of Shumy, were confirmed by a Ukrainian military observer.

[25] On 29 June, Russia made slight gains in Druzhba, and Russian sources claimed advances near Pivnichne, Pivdenne, and Zalizne.

[26] The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on 30 June that their forces had advanced through Pivnichne by making a surprise attack on Ukrainian positions by bypassing land through an underground tunnel.

Russian forces on 3 July and the days prior advanced significantly in the Toretsk direction from the east, reaching and contesting eastern Pivnichne and Druzhba.

A Ukrainian spokesperson stated a Russian decrease in prioritization of the battle of Chasiv Yar, and that more effort was being given to advance towards Toretsk.

Russia continued to attempt to advance towards Toretsk from both Niu-York in the south and the collection of villages in the east on 12 July.

[53] Russian sources further claimed a complete capture of Niu-York, the seizure of a waste heap in Zalizne, and an advance into eastern Toretsk.

[74] In late October, Russian control over the Zabalka district (southern Toretsk) was lost to Ukrainian counterattacks.

[89] More Russian personnel were reportedly transferred to the Toretsk area in late November to assist in further offensive efforts.

He further said that the highly dynamic situation in the Zabalka district of southern Toretsk meant that the line of control in the area was ambiguous, even to those on the frontline.

[94] Russian sources said on 4 and 5 December that nearly all of the Zabalka district had been captured, that advances had been made north of the Avanhard Stadium, and that the Tsentralna Mine had been seized.

Geolocated footage confirmed Russian advances in central Toretsk northwest up to Svitla Street, in the waste heaps of the Tsentralna Mine,[95] and in the southern parts of the Zabalka district.

[104] As of mid-January 2025, Russian forces control the urban area of Toretsk, with fighting ongoing around the city and its northern outskirts.

[105] In a situational report on 28 January, commander, military expert and historian Markus Reisner stated that the city was de-facto occupied by Russian forces.

[109] On 15 July, Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military's Khortytsia group claimed that Russian casualties over the previous week in the "Toretsk sector" amounted to 635 personnel killed, 855 wounded, and 12 prisoners of war.

[111] On 25 November, Maj. Anastasia Bobovnikova, a spokeswoman for Ukraine's Luhansk OT, claimed that Russia was losing 100 soldiers a day in Toretsk, or 5% of their losses across the front.

[112] On 2 December, Bobovnikova further claimed that Russian forces had suffered 500 casualties, "a mechanized battalion's worth of personnel", during one week of assaults within Toretsk.

[113] On 13 December, the 4th Separate Unit of the Ukrainian National Guard claimed to have demolished a building occupied by Russian soldiers in Toretsk, "eliminating" 114 of them.

[24][38] Dmytro Snehiryov, a military analyst, said that a Russian capture of Toretsk would be of strategic value as the city is an "important logistics center" and stands at an elevated position, and that with the offensive Russia is continuing to attempt to spread out the concentration of Ukrainian forces to make further advances.