View source for Toretsk

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{{short description|City in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine}}{{Update|date=June 2025}}{{Infobox settlement
| name               = 
| official_name      = Toretsk
| native_name        = Торецьк
| image_skyline      = Church St Macarius Dzerzhynsk.JPG
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Ukraine|City]]
| image_caption      = Church of St. Macarius in Toretsk
| image_flag         = Flag of Toretsk.svg
| image_shield       = UKR Toretsk COA.svg
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{UKR}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Oblasts of Ukraine|Oblast]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Donetsk Oblast]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Raions of Ukraine|Raion]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Bakhmut Raion]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Hromada]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Toretsk urban hromada]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1806
| established_title1 = City rights
| established_date1  = 1938<ref name=esu/>
| parts_type         = Microdistrict/Microraion<ref>https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-30-2025</ref>
| parts              = Fomiha Microraion<ref>https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-14-2025</ref><br>Krymske Microraion<br>Nakhalivka Microraion<br>Zabalka Microraion
| leader_title       = Head
| leader_name        = Vasil Chynchyk<!-- As of July 2023 -->
| area_total_km2     = 62
| population_total   = Around 40 (<nowiki>2022</nowiki> population 30,914)
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| pushpin_map        = Ukraine Donetsk Oblast#Ukraine
| coordinates        = {{coord|48|23|30|N|37|52|24|E|region:UA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 179|
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 85200—85279
| area_code          = +380-6247
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Humid continental climate#Mild/cool summer subtype|Dfb]]
| website            = http://toretsk-rada.gov.ua/
| module             = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=11 |height=250 |stroke-width=2 | {{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
}}

'''Toretsk''' ({{langx|uk|Торецьк}}; {{langx|ru|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 {{Ua-pop-est2022|30,914|punct=.|showyear=false}} 

It has its origins as the hamlet '''Shcherbynivka''',{{efn|{{langx|uk|Щербинівка}}; {{langx|ru|Щербиновка|Shcherbinovka}}.}} 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'''{{efn|{{langx|uk|link=no|Дзержинськ}}; {{langx|ru|link=no|Дзержинск|Dzerzhinsk}}.}} after [[Felix Dzerzhinsky]], the founder of the Soviet security service [[Cheka]]. The city received its current name in 2016, as a result of [[decommunization in Ukraine|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.<ref name="Reuters25">{{Cite web |date=7 February 2025 |title=Russia says it has captured strategic city of Toretsk, Ukraine denies it |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-it-has-taken-control-city-toretsk-eastern-ukraine-2025-02-07/ |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Due to the fighting, the city was ruined and virtually entirely depopulated. Russia calls Toretsk by its pre-2016 name ''Dzerzhinsk''{{Efn|According to [[Romanization of Russian|Russian transliteration]]}} and considers it to be part of the [[Donetsk People's Republic]], which it [[Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts|claims to have annexed]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=IN BRIEF: What is known about liberation of Dzerzhinsk in Donetsk People’s Republic |url=https://tass.com/politics/1910235 |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=TASS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-02-08 |title=Russia says it has captured strategic city of Toretsk, Ukraine denies it |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-it-has-taken-control-city-toretsk-eastern-ukraine-2025-02-07/ |access-date=2025-06-11 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
Toretsk is located on the [[right bank]] of the [[Kryvyi Torets]] river, which is a tributary of the [[Kazennyi Torets]].<ref name=esu/> It is located in the historical, cultural, and economic [[Donbas]] region within [[eastern Ukraine]].<ref name=ssr/>

==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]].<ref name=esu>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Дзержинськ |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine]] |publisher=Інститут енциклопедичних досліджень НАН України |url=https://esu.com.ua/article-24089 |last1=Пасенюк |first1=В. В. |date=2007-02-01 |volume=7 |language=Ukrainian |isbn=978-966-02-2074-4 |last2=Сліпцов |first2=В. М.}}</ref>

In 1869, the [[Kursk-Kharkiv-Azov Railway]] was built, which passed near Shcherbynivka, significantly contributing to the economic development of the town.<ref name=esu/>

===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.<ref name=ssr/> In 1936, Shcherbynivka was renamed to ''Dzerzhynsk'' after [[Felix Dzerzhinsky]].<ref name=esu/><ref name=ssr>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Дзержинськ, Донецька область |encyclopedia=Історія міст і сіл Української РСР |url=https://ukrssr.com.ua/donetska/dzerzhinsk-donetska-oblast |language=uk}}</ref> Dzerzhinsky was the founder of the [[Cheka]] secret police in the USSR, and architect of the [[Red Terror]].<ref name="Carr2016">{{cite book |author-last=Carr |author-first=Barnes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1s69CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA11 |title=Operation Whisper: The Capture of Soviet Spies Morris and Lona Cohen |publisher=University Press of New England |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-61168-939-6 |pages=11–13}}</ref> It also received city status.<ref name=esu/><ref name=ssr/> A local newspaper began being published in the town in September 1936.<ref>№ 2683. Дзержинский шахтёр // Летопись периодических и продолжающихся изданий СССР 1986 - 1990. Часть 2. Газеты. М., «Книжная палата», 1994. стр.352</ref>

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 [[Deportation of Soviet citizens for forced labour to Germany|deported 1,460 for forced labor to Germany]].<ref name=esu/> The Germans operated a subcamp of the Stalag 378 [[German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II|prisoner-of-war camp]] in the town.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Megargee|first1=Geoffrey P.|last2=Overmans|first2=Rüdiger|last3=Vogt|first3=Wolfgang|year=2022|title=The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV|publisher=Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|page=378|isbn=978-0-253-06089-1}}</ref>

According to the [[1989 Soviet census]], Dzerzhynsk's population was 50,538 people.<ref name=autogenerated2>Дзержинск // Большой энциклопедический словарь (в 2-х тт.). / редколл., гл. ред. А. М. Прохоров. том 1. М., "Советская энциклопедия", 1991. стр.386</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2001 |title=19A0501_06. Кількість наявного та постійного населення за статтю та типом поселень (0,1,2,3) |url=http://db.ukrcensus.gov.ua/mult/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=19A0501_06&ti=19A0501_06.%2520%25CA%25B3%25EB%25FC%25EA%25B3%25F1%25F2%25FC%2520%25ED%25E0%25FF%25E2%25ED%25EE%25E3%25EE%2520%25F2%25E0%2520%25EF%25EE%25F1%25F2%25B3%25E9%25ED%25EE%25E3%25EE%2520%25ED%25E0%25F1%25E5%25EB%25E5%25ED%25ED%25FF%2520%25E7%25E0%2520%25F1%25F2%25E0%25F2%25F2%25FE%2520%25F2%25E0%2520%25F2%25E8%25EF%25EE%25EC%2520%25EF%25EE%25F1%25E5%25EB%25E5%25ED%25FC%2520(0,1,2,3)&path=../Database/Census/01/&lang=1&multilang=uk |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=2001 Ukrainian Census}}</ref>

===21st century===
In the [[2001 Ukrainian census|2001 census]], Dzerzhynsk's population was 43,371<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001 |title=19A0501_031. Кількість наявного населення за статтю та типом поселень (0,1,2,3) |url=http://db.ukrcensus.gov.ua/mult/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=19A0501_031&ti=19A0501_031.%2520%25CA%25B3%25EB%25FC%25EA%25B3%25F1%25F2%25FC%2520%25ED%25E0%25FF%25E2%25ED%25EE%25E3%25EE%2520%25ED%25E0%25F1%25E5%25EB%25E5%25ED%25ED%25FF%2520%25E7%25E0%2520%25F1%25F2%25E0%25F2%25F2%25FE%2520%25F2%25E0%2520%25F2%25E8%25EF%25EE%25EC%2520%25EF%25EE%25F1%25E5%25EB%25E5%25ED%25FC%2520(0,1,2,3)&path=../Database/Census/01/&lang=1&multilang=uk |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=[[2001 Ukrainian Census]]}}</ref> and by 2013 had declined to 35,296 people.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://database.ukrcensus.gov.ua/PXWEB2007/ukr/publ_new1/2013/sb_nnas_2012.pdf |title=Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2013 року. Державна служба статистики України. Київ, 2013. стор.51 |access-date=2020-01-29 |archive-date=2013-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012013028/http://database.ukrcensus.gov.ua/PXWEB2007/ukr/publ_new1/2013/sb_nnas_2012.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following the 2015 [[decommunization in Ukraine|law on decommunization]], the city council decided on 16 October 2015 to rename the city to Toretsk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nikvesti.com/news/politics/76931|title=Дзержинск решили переименовать в Торецк|date=16 October 2015 }}</ref> The name was approved by the [[Verkhovna Rada]] (the Ukrainian parliament) on 4 February 2016.<ref name=rename>[http://www.unian.info/society/1255225-decommunisation-continues-rada-renames-several-towns-and-villages.html Decommunisation continues: Rada renames several towns and villages], [[UNIAN]] (4 February 2016)<br />{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/02/4/7097833/|title=Rada de-communized Artemivsk as well as over hundred cities and villages|date=4 February 2016|publisher=Pravda.com.ua|language=Ukrainian|accessdate=4 February 2016}}</ref>

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.<ref name=water/>{{update after|2017}}<!-- did he remain the mayor in 2017?  is he still mayor in 2024? -->

In 2020, Toretsk became the center of [[Toretsk urban hromada]] within [[Bakhmut Raion]], in accordance with nationwide administrative reforms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Бахмутський район |url=https://decentralization.gov.ua/newrayons/1314 |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Децентралізація в Україні}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Торецька територіальна громада |url=https://decentralization.gov.ua/newgromada/3758 |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Децентралізація в Україні}}</ref>

====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.<ref name=dep>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-26 |title='Constantly depressing': Ukrainian town watches war close in |language=en |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-a3faa537e81422ca2c1d1aa89e5224f0 |access-date=2023-11-22}}</ref> On 21 July, Ukrainian forces recaptured the city.<ref name=dzkpm14>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/war-grinds-on-volunteers-doing-work-of-government-in-dzerzhynsk-388610.html|title=War Grinds on: Volunteers doing work of government in Dzerzhynsk - May. 14, 2015|date=14 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/separatists-retreat-from-dzerzhynsk-357159.html|title = Separatists retreat from Dzerzhynsk - Jul. 21, 2014|date = 21 July 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://ukrainianweek.com/Society/142933 We Can Win After All], The Ukrainian Week (6 August 2015)</ref> 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.<ref name=water>{{cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/multimedia/photo/people-toretsk-cut-off-water-supply|title = People in Toretsk struggle as shelling cuts off water supply (PHOTOS) - Nov. 27, 2016| date=27 November 2016 }}</ref>

===== Russian invasion of Ukraine =====
{{Main|Battle of Toretsk}}
[[File:Destructions in Toretsk, 2023-12-28 (frame 09166).jpg|thumb|Buildings damaged by Russian shelling, October 2023]]
[[File:Destructions in Toretsk, 2023-12-28 (frame 09231).jpg|thumb|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.<ref name=dep/> Numerous civilians were killed as a result of Russian strikes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-04 |title=Dozens of Soldiers Freed in Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Swap |language=en |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/dozens-of-soldiers-freed-in-russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap/6948101.html |access-date=2023-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-13 |title=Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 628 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/13/russia-ukraine-war-at-a-glance-what-we-know-on-day-628 |access-date=2023-11-22 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=de Vega |first=Luis |date=2023-07-27 |title=Hairdresser open, market closed: the double reality of Toretsk, at the gates of the Bakhmut front |language=en-us |url=https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-07-27/hairdresser-open-market-closed-the-double-reality-of-toretsk-at-the-gates-of-the-bakhmut-front.html |access-date=2023-11-22}}</ref>

In June 2024, Toretsk came under increased Russian pressure, as part of [[Battle of Toretsk|a renewed campaign]] to capture the city and its surrounding villages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 18, 2024 |last1=Evans |first1=Angelica |last2=Mappes |first2=Grace |last3=Wolkov |first3=Nicole |last4=Stepanenko |first4=Kateryna |last5=Barros |first5=George |work=Institute for the Study of War |date=18 June 2024 |access-date=19 June 2024 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-18-2024}}</ref> As of October, Russia fully or almost completely controls Toretsk's eastern outskirt settlements of [[Pivnichne, Donetsk Oblast|Pivnichne]], [[Zalizne]], [[Druzhba, Donetsk Oblast|Druzhba]], and [[Pivdenne, Donetsk Oblast|Pivdenne]],<ref name="euro">{{Cite web | url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/10/08/russian-forces-enter-toretsk-as-battles-rage-in-donetsk-region | title=Russian forces enter Toretsk as battles rage in Donetsk region | website=[[Euronews]] | date=2024-10-08}}</ref> while also advancing into the center of Toretsk.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kagan |first1=Frederick W. |last2=Mappes |first2=Grace |last3=Stepanenko |first3=Kateryna |last4=Evans |first4=Angelica |last5=Gasparyan |first5=Davit |last6=Bailey |first6=Riley |date=21 September 2024 |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 21, 2024 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-september-21-2024 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Institute for the Study of War}}</ref> By that time, Ukrainian military officials estimated the city population to have decreased to around 1,150.<ref name="kyiv_independent_20241011" /> By January 2025, Russian forces controlled the urban area of Toretsk,<ref name="urban">{{Cite web |last=Wilk |first=Andrzej |last2=Żochowski |first2=Piotr |date=2025-01-21 |title=Britain pledges a century of support for Ukraine. Day 1063 of the war |url=https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2025-01-21/britain-pledges-a-century-support-ukraine-day-1063-war |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124102751/https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2025-01-21/britain-pledges-a-century-support-ukraine-day-1063-war |archive-date=24 January 2025 |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=[[Centre for Eastern Studies]] |language=en}}</ref> with fighting ongoing around the city and its northern outskirts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilk |first=Andrzej |last2=Żochowski |first2=Piotr |date=2025-01-14 |title=Russian progress on key front lines. Day 1056 of the war |url=https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2025-01-14/russian-progress-key-front-lines-day-1056-war |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124115806/https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2025-01-14/russian-progress-key-front-lines-day-1056-war |archive-date=24 January 2025 |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=[[Centre for Eastern Studies]] |language=en}}</ref> Ukrainian forces indirectly admitted that most of the city was no longer controlled by Ukraine.<ref name="urban" /> On 7 February, Russia claimed that the city had been fully captured by its forces, although this was denied by Ukraine.<ref name="Reuters25" />

==Economy==
[[File:"Торецьк - місто шахтарів" - напис на пагорбі перед шахтою імені Дзержинського.jpg|A large sign reading "Toretsk is a town of miners"|thumb]]
The industries of the city formerly<!-- into the 2010s. --> included [[coal mining]], the production of [[Coke (fuel)|coke chemical]], ceramics, and [[phenol]].<ref name=IEU1984>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Dzerzhynsk |encyclopedia=[[Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine]] |url=https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CD%5CZ%5CDzerzhynsk.htm |year=1984}}</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2024}}

==Education==
Toretsk had a mining [[tekhnikum]], a music school, and a medical school.<ref name=IEU1984/>

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| title= Population history
| align = right
| direction =
| cols =
| 1926 | 18886<ref name=ssr/>
| 1989 | 50538<ref name=autogenerated2/>
| 2001 | 43371<ref name=esu/>
| 2013 | 35296<ref name=IEU>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Dzerzhynsk |encyclopedia=[[Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine]] |url=https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CD%5CZ%5CDzerzhynsk.htm}}</ref>
| 2022 | 30914<ref name=ua2022estimate/>
| 2024 | 1150<ref name="kyiv_independent_20241011" />
}}
As of the [[2001 Ukrainian census]], the majority of residents identified as ethnic Ukrainians and spoke Russian as their first language:<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=19A050501_021_014. Розподіл населення за національністю та рідною мовою, Донецька область (2) |url=http://db.ukrcensus.gov.ua/mult/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=19A050501_021_014&ti=19A050501_021_014.%20%D0%EE%E7%EF%EE%E4%B3%EB%20%ED%E0%F1%E5%EB%E5%ED%ED%FF%20%E7%E0%20%ED%E0%F6%B3%EE%ED%E0%EB%FC%ED%B3%F1%F2%FE%20%F2%E0%20%F0%B3%E4%ED%EE%FE%20%EC%EE%E2%EE%FE,%20%C4%EE%ED%E5%F6%FC%EA%E0%20%EE%E1%EB%E0%F1%F2%FC%20(2)&path=../Database/Census/05/02/02/&lang=1&multilang=uk |accessdate=2022-03-16 |publisher=Ukrcensus.gov.ua}}</ref> 

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,<ref name="kyiv_independent_20241011">{{cite web |last=Fornusek |first=Martin |date=11 October 2024 |title=Ukraine holds 40-50% of Toretsk, official says |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-holds-40-50-of-toretsk/ |access-date=10 April 2025 |work=[[Kyiv Independent]]}}</ref> down from the estimated 1,600 by 13 September following an organised evacuation of at least 8,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vladislava |date=2024-09-13 |title=1,600 people remaining in Toretsk amid intense fighting |url=https://bukvy.org/en/1600-people-remaining-in-toretsk-amid-intense-fighting/ |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=Букви |language=en-US}}</ref> The estimated number of residents further decreased to 126 by January 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=В Курахово Донецкой области остаются 300 человек. Город почти полностью оккупирован |url=https://hromadske.ua/ru/voyna/237548-v-kurahovo-donetskoy-oblasti-ostayutsya-300-chelovek-gorod-pochti-polnostyu-okkupirovan |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=hromadske |language=ru}}</ref> to 48 by March,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-03-30 |title=A certain part of Toretsk is occupied by the occupiers, but street fighting is taking place - MBA |url=https://unn.ua/en/news/a-certain-part-of-toretsk-is-occupied-by-the-occupiers-but-street-fighting-is-taking-place-mba |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=Ukrainian National News (UNN) |language=en}}</ref> and to around 40 by April.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kosharna |first=Olga |date=2025-04-16 |title=40 people still remain in Toretsk, no undamaged buildings are left in city – RMA |url=https://censor.net/en/news/3547196/how-many-people-still-remain-in-the-toretsk |website=Censor.net}}</ref>

;Ethnicity
*[[Ukrainians]]: 61.4%
*[[Russians]]: 36.1%
*[[Belarusians]]: 1%
*[[Tatars]]: 0.3%
*[[Romani people|Romani]]: 0.3%

;First language
*[[Russian language|Russian]]: 87.1%
*[[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]: 12.2%
*[[Romani language|Romani]]: 0.2%
*[[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]: 0.1%
*[[Armenian language|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==
<gallery>
File:Panoramio - V&A Dudush - Dzerzhynsk.jpg|City entrance in 2008 when it was called Dzerzhynsk
File:Dzerzhynsk Avanhard Stadium 1.jpg|Toretsk Avanhard Stadium
File:Ukraine Donetsk Oblast Dzerzhynsk IMG 5371 1280.jpg|An apartment block in Toretsk
File:ДК Україна Дзержинськ.JPG|Ukraine Palace of Culture
File:Зимовий сад палацу Україна.JPG|Ukraine Palace of Culture interior
File:ЗАГС Дзержинск.JPG|Buildings in downtown
File:Клуб Дзержинського фенольного заводу.JPG|Toretsk phenol factory club
File:Дзержинський фенольний завод.JPG|Phenol factory building
File:Станция Фенольная.JPG|Toretsk railway station
File:Dz SkorbotnaMati.jpg|Crying mother monument 
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bakhmut Raion}}
{{Donetsk Oblast}}
{{War in Donbas}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Donetsk Oblast]]
[[Category:Cities of regional significance in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Former Soviet toponymy in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1806]]
[[Category:Toretsk urban hromada]]
[[Category:Populated places destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine]]