Russians set up gigantic “killing zones”.

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The Ukrainian spring offensive shifts the Russian army from offensive to defensive position. The fear of a counter-attack by the Ukrainian army has therefore prompted Russian troops to build gigantic defense lines.

The Russians are trying to keep the conquered territory in the south and east of Ukraine. This is evident from satellite images from the Copernicus Sentinel 2 satellite of the European Space Agency Esa, which the “RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland” (RND) evaluated.

The staggered lines stretch for more than 100 kilometers – from the Dnipro River far into the Donetsk region. Sometimes they are 30 kilometers from the front line.

Different zones

They are divided according to the military blogger Pas Paroinen in different zones: The first zone consists of company bases and outposts. This is followed by trenches and a zone with reserve troops and diversionary positions.

Finally, the main line of defense consists of multi-level trenches, anti-tank ditches and dragon’s teeth – concrete elements designed to hold back tanks. Paroinen suspects that the area is likely to be heavily mined.

Australian ex-general Mick Ryan comments on the Russian fortifications on Twitter. It is extremely difficult to set up such a complex defense system along the entire front line of some 1200 kilometers.

“send enemy to kill zones”

It must be assumed that Russia sees this area as a key point in the Ukrainian counter-offensive. From a Russian point of view, these are apparently the “most dangerous” and “most likely” attack zones.

Ryan recognizes a strategy in the rules: “The vast majority of obstacles are not used to stop the enemy,” he writes on Twitter. “The Russians are more concerned with leading the enemy into kill zones or disrupting troop unity and weapon interaction.”

According to Ryan, the Russians also prepared obstacles to surprise, delay and counter Ukrainian forces. This strategy is not surprising, the ex-general continues, but standard military practice. However, theory and practice are two different pairs of shoes. (new)

Source: Blick