09 Sep: Russians in big trouble. Ukrainians are retaking the city! - Reporting from Ukraine

Today there are a lot of updates from the Toresk direction.

Here, the Russians made significant progress in the fight for New York and placed the Ukrainian defenders under siege at a local chemical factory. In response, the Ukrainian command deployed the elite special purpose Twelfth Azov Brigade, which resulted in a dramatic change and liberation of the most fortified part of the city.

Previously, Russian forces seized control of the high-rise district in the western part of the city, an important gain given the nature of the terrain. The remaining areas under Ukrainian control consist mostly of small residential houses surrounding the industrial zone. With the high-rise buildings providing the Russians with a commanding view and fire control over the low-lying residential areas, Ukrainian positions became increasingly untenable. The lack of fortified defenses in the residential sector forced the Ukrainian forces to consolidate at their only remaining stronghold—the heavily fortified chemical plant.

The Russians were able to advance effectively by leveraging their fire control and observation points from the high-rises, coupled with their numerical superiority and heavy firepower, to push the Ukrainians back toward the chemical plant. However, their momentum was short-lived, as the Ukrainian forces quickly fortified their positions around the industrial zone, halting the Russian advance just outside the plant. The Ukrainians utilized the plant's strong defensive structures to withstand the Russian assault, preventing further Russian penetration into the industrial sector.

The New York chemical plant offered formidable defensive advantages that played a crucial role in halting the Russian advance. The plant's high-rise factory buildings, constructed from concrete and reinforced materials, made them highly resistant to Russian artillery and air strikes. These structures also served as valuable observation points for Ukrainian forces, allowing them to detect Russian movements around the plant and disrupt any planned assaults with precision fire. Additionally, given the factory’s significant economic importance during the Soviet era, it likely features underground bunkers, providing Ukrainian fighters with essential cover from air strikes and adding another layer of defense in the ongoing battle.

The terrain surrounding the New York chemical plant further strengthens its defensive position. To the west, the Kriviy Torets River and a large pond create natural barriers that would slow down any Russian assault, leaving advancing forces vulnerable to concentrated Ukrainian fire as they attempt to cross. To the east, beyond the plant, lies a vast open area near railway tracks. Here, any Russian assault units would be exposed to concealed Ukrainian fire from well-defended positions, making an advance across this open terrain extremely dangerous and costly for the attackers. These geographic features significantly bolster the Ukrainians’ defensive strategy, creating choke points and opportunities to inflict heavy losses on Russian forces.

While Ukrainian units in the industrial zone held strong positions, the Russians decided to avoid direct assaults and instead attempted to starve them of ammunition and food. The Ukrainian command recognized this as a pressing issue, as the forces and positions in the chemical plant were instrumental in defending the western flank of Toretsk. Therefore, elements of the Special Purpose Twelfth Azov Brigade were deployed to relieve the Ukrainian fighters at the chemical plant and establish a stable supply line to maintain the defense.

The Twelfth Special Purpose Azov Brigade consists of veteran fighters who played a pivotal role in the Battle of Mariupol and the Donbas war up until 2022, making them some of the most elite and battle-hardened troops in Ukraine’s military. Following a series of successful prisoner exchanges, these seasoned soldiers were reorganized into the brigade, now commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Denys Prokopenko, the former commander of the original Azov Regiment. His leadership, alongside the combat experience of the brigade, significantly bolsters the Ukrainian defensive efforts in Toretsk.

The Azov fighters were swiftly deployed to the Toretsk direction, with their movements kept highly concealed until the moment of the counterattack. This element of surprise...