On July 21, 2014, the soldiers of the 34th Battalion engaged in their first battle, participating in the liberation of the then Dzerzhynsk (now Toretsk). The Special Operations Forces troops were the first to reach the city executive committee building, while the "34th" with servicemen from the 169th Training Center "Desna" (a consolidated platoon tactical group) entered the city from two sides, destroying enemy checkpoints and strongholds, defeating reserves, and eliminating groups attempting to retreat from the city towards Horlivka and Yasynuvata.
