Russia's Defence Ministry said on Friday that its forces had taken control of the strategic coal-mining city of Toretsk in eastern Ukraine, but Ukraine's military denied the city had been captured and reported heavy fighting in and around it.

In a major strategic win, Russia takes control of Toretsk, pushing forward in its efforts to gain full control of southern Donetsk and threaten nearby Ukrainian strongholds.

Russia’s Defense Ministry is claiming that its forces have captured the coal mining town of Toretsk, their latest breakthrough in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, where Ukrainian defenses are creaking.

According to their data, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue their defensive operation in Toretsk. Fighting is currently ongoing in the Zabalka microdistrict, as well as on the northern and western outskirts. The city center is almost entirely under enemy control.

Russian forces claimed to have captured Toretsk, but battles are still ongoing in the city. Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to resist, according to the DeepState and Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

DeepState reported that fighting continues in the Zabalka neighborhood and on the northern and western outskirts, with Russian forces controlling nearly the entire center of Toretsk. Read also: Military expert discusses causes of Armed Forces-DeepState incident and solutions "Unfortunately,