Russian control of Torskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic creates new opportunities for further advances toward Dobropolye, according to military analyst and reserve Navy Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin.

He said the capture of the settlement marked another step toward taking the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration.

Dandykin noted that Russia’s Center group of forces was advancing toward the border of the Dnepropetrovsk region and in the direction of Dobropolye. In his assessment, further progress in this sector could allow Russian units to move into the rear of Ukrainian positions and strengthen pressure on the Kramatorsk-Slavyansk area.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on July 27 that Torskoye had come under Russian control. Units from the Center group of forces took part in the operation.

On the same day, Russia reported that troops from the East group of forces had taken control of Kommunarovka in the Dnepropetrovsk region.