In anticipation of a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the majority of Russian troops are strengthening the southern districts of the Zaporizhzhia region and the “gateway” to the Crimean peninsula.
This was reported by Reuters, citing satellite imagery.
The photographs analyzed by Reuters show that the majority of Russian fortifications were built after November, when Ukrainian defenders liberated Kherson. It is noted that Russian positions are most often concentrated near the front line in the southeast of the Zaporizhia region and on the narrow strip of land connecting Crimea with the rest of Ukraine.
According to experts, Russian trenches and ditches are moving south from Vasilivka and across the entire Zaporizhzhia region. The defensive line stretches for 120 km.
“Anti-tank ditches are deep and wide enough to impede the advance of tanks and armored vehicles. Then come the concrete “dragon’s teeth” that serve as pyramid-shaped barricades. Trenches lie about a kilometer behind the ditches,” Reuters writes, citing an expert.
In addition to trenches, barricades, and zigzag-shaped trenches, Russia’s defensive lines will also include minefields, barbed wire, and camouflaged positions of weaponry.
Near the front-line city of Polohy in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russia has built two distinct defensive lines, one to the north and one to the south.
In addition, some cities, such as Tokmak and Bilmak, are surrounded by fortifications. Trenches have been dug along the roads and at the airports of the cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk.
Earlier, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, stated that the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Defense Forces should be a surprise to everyone. It is important to keep the details of the counteroffensive secret for as long as possible.