Russia said Friday its forces had seized the mining town of Toretsk in east Ukraine after months of heavy fighting, allowing Moscow to push further into the Donbas region. Kyiv denied Russia had full control of the industrial hub.

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.

Russian forces have taken control of the city of Toretsk in eastern Ukraine, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Friday. Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield report. Russia calls the city by its Soviet-era name of Dzerzhynsk and says Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region is now part of Russia,

Months of fighting end with Russian forces taking control of Toretsk in eastern Ukraine. Explore the aftermath of the battle and its significance.

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

Russia captures Toretsk in eastern Ukraine, intensifying conflict as Ukrainian defenses weaken and U.S. military aid remains uncertain.

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.

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,