This is how Russia arms itself against an attack on Crimea

Russia apparently fears a Ukrainian attack on Crimea and has massively expanded its defenses. Satellite images from the company Maxar show how many trenches have been dug along the coast within two weeks. Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized that Crimea is its territory.

According to a Washington Post report, the new defense systems, including those on the Medvedivka promontory, would stretch for several miles. The trenches were dug in a zigzag pattern to give soldiers greater firing range. In addition, anti-tank obstacles had been erected.

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“The Russian army seems to understand that Crimea must be defended in the near future,” Ian Matveev, a Russian military analyst, told the newspaper.

The fortifications appear against the background of a repeatedly announced Ukrainian spring offensive. However, it is unclear what plans Kiev is actually pursuing. The reconquest of Crimea has already been mentioned as a goal, but the question is whether sufficient resources are available for this. However, the Russian work at least suggests that Moscow expects an attack.

According to the Washington Post, not only is heavy equipment used to build the factories, but many workers previously recruited on online job boards. They were offered a salary of $90 a day.

Crimea is connected to Ukraine by a narrow land link that is partly marshy and could make it difficult for troops to advance. Some of the Russian installations in Crimea also apparently reached near canals and rivers to provide another obstacle to approaching troops.

Ukrainian attack by sea possible?

Crimea has a special significance: on the one hand historically – Russia defended the area against European powers in 1850 – on the other hand also strategically – after all, this is where the port of the Black Sea Fleet is located. Politically, losing Crimea would be a bitter defeat for President Putin: it was he who annexed the peninsula in 2014.

Russia even seems to expect an attack from the sea, which the installations on the coast suggest. It seems doubtful whether Kiev will actually use its rather weak navy or send soldiers and tanks. Michael Kofman, a military analyst at the Center for Naval Analysis in Virginia, told the Washington Post that Ukraine is unlikely to capture Crimea in the “classical sense.” Rather, Kiev could pursue a strategy of attrition by complicating Russian entry with sustained attacks. That could lead to negotiations. In recent months, Crimea has been the subject of repeated attacks by Ukraine and friendly groups. For example, the Crimean Bridge was partially destroyed and considerable damage was caused to a military airport.

Ukraine is sure of victory. A few days ago, the Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, presented a “12-point plan”. It describes what Kiev intends to do with the peninsula after a possible liberation of Crimea. The Krimbrug will be demolished and the administration will be ‘detoxed’.

Ben Hodges, once general of US troops in Europe, still sees opportunities for Ukraine as far as Crimea is concerned. Expelling all Russian troops from Ukraine is not easy – even if he praises Ukrainian creativity. “Ukraine will never be safe or secure or able to rebuild its economy as long as Russia occupies Crimea because of the blocking of access to the Sea of ​​Azov and because of the Black Sea Fleet’s ability to attack the Black Sea coast and ports of to dominate Ukraine,” Hodges wrote on Twitter. His suggestion: “Free Crimea, the critical terrain, and watch Russian defenses collapse elsewhere.” (t-online/wan)