Photo: Video screenshot
Russians fortified with “dragon’s teeth”
The Russians built fortifications in the occupied Crimea, as well as in the Zaporozhye and Lugansk regions.
In the occupied territories and in the border areas, the Russian military, preparing for the Ukrainian counteroffensive, prepared about 1,500 kilometers of fortifications. It is reported by Meduza.
It is noted that the defense lines of the Rosins stretch from the western edge of the Crimea to the borders of Russia and Belarus.
The self-proclaimed head of the Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, announced the fortification work in the annexed Crimea back in November last year. Then lines of trenches and bunkers stretched along the coast of Evpatoria, and artillery positions were established in some places. Right on the beaches of the city, the Russians placed “dragon’s teeth”. The Russians paid special attention to strengthening the defensive lines on the Perekop Isthmus and the Chongar Strait.
According to OSINT analyst Brady Africa, trenches have been dug along the North Crimean Canal from Armyansk to Dzhankoy; in some places on satellite images, lines of “dragon’s teeth” are visible. Similar fortifications cover Kerch from the west.
Defense structures in the Crimea. Photo: Maxar Technologies / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Also, the Russian troops built a fortification in the Zaporozhye region near Tokmak and Melitopol, since these cities are considered one of the possible targets for the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
To cover the occupied part of the Zaporozhye region, including the vicinity of Melitopol, the Russians set up several defensive lines at once on a strip 25-30 kilometers long from the front line to Tokmak. The main fortifications are concentrated in the Tokmak area. The first line is occupied by firing points, observation posts and separately located trenches of platoon strongholds.
In the event of an offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian army expects to withdraw from these positions to the main defensive line five kilometers from the front line, it was there that a continuous line of trenches was discovered. Behind it is a zone for the location of artillery and positions for armored vehicles.
In addition, in October last year it was reported that the PMC Wagner, headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, is building defensive lines in the Lugansk region. From that time on, these fortifications began to be called the “Prigozhin Line”. However, later the equipment of trenches and anti-tank barriers had to be suspended due to bad weather, and construction was resumed at the beginning of the year.
Fortifications appeared on the flanks of the Russian grouping in the area of Soledar, near Svatov and Kremennaya – here the autumn counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stopped, during which the Ukrainians liberated the occupied areas of the Kharkiv region.
Defense lines on the front. Photo: meduza.io
Also, new trenches appeared to the north of Donetsk, near the villages of Olginka and Egorovka. In the area of Zaitsevoye near the front line, fresh fortifications intersect with trenches dug back in 2015.
According to the publication, the Russians spent more than 10 billion rubles ($125 million) on strengthening on the border with Ukraine.
