Fortifications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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Both sides have built fortifications during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Surovikin line[edit]

The Surovikin line is a complex set of fortifications in southeastern Ukraine, engineered by and named for Russian general Sergey Surovikin. Surovikin had the line built during his tenure as the overall theater commander immediately after Ukraine's 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive.[1]

Wagner line[edit]

The Wagner line (Russian: линия Вагнера, romanized: liniya Vagnera, Ukrainian: лінія Вагнера, romanized: liniya Vahnera) is a defense line built in eastern Ukraine by the Wagner paramilitary group during the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Overview[edit]

On 19 October 2022, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the paramilitary group Wagner,[2] announced that he had begun the construction of a defense line.[3] The aim is to prevent Ukrainian troops from advancing towards the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, which was annexed by Russia in September.[4][5] According to the Russian media, it is a "second line of defence in case the Ukrainian armed forces try to penetrate the area.[6][7]

In a report dated 21 November 2022, the British Ministry of Defence considered that Moscow prioritized the construction of defensive positions on the Svatove–Kreminna line.[8]

Structure[edit]

The line consists of two double rows of pyramidal concrete blocks called "dragon's teeth" to block tanks from advancing.[9][10][11][12] Between these two defensive curtains, a deep trench and firing stations complete the device.[10] It is not known whether the line has mines.[9]

The project foresees about 200 km (120 mi) of fortifications in eastern Ukraine, up to the Russian border.[10][13][14] The line shall extend on a south-north axis starting from the city of Svitlodarsk, along the front line to the Donets River, and then form an acute angle again eastwards, following the course of the river to the border.[2]

Andrey Bogatov, another leader of the Wagner Group, said that construction of the line had also begun in Belgorod Oblast, Russia.[15]

Efficiency[edit]

Several experts questioned the efficiency of the line.

For Xavier Tytelman, a conflict observer and defence consultant, "The dragon's teeth should be partially buried so that only the tip can pass through. A simple armoured bulldozer is enough to turn them over".[16]

According to the Ukrainian Governor of Luhansk Region, Serhiy Haidai, only 2 km had been built as of October 2022.[2][17] The ABC News considers -through the study of satellite photos - that 12 km had been built as of February 2023.[18]

According to a bulletin issued in February 2023 by the ISW, Prigozhin's proposed extension of the Wagner line is intended to defend the border between Belgorod Oblast and the Ukrainian oblasts of Sumy, Kharkiv and Luhansk, but "would not cover the northern part of Luhansk Oblast up to the line of contact with the occupied territories, thus contradicting the Kremlin's promises to defend the entire Luhansk region".[19]

Dragon's teeth were not buried or camouflaged in the Wagner line before February 2023, which, according to a BBC article, severely limits their effectiveness.[20]

It may also be noted that the line did not protect the city of Sievierodonetsk as of November 2022.[14] The local authorities in Belgorod have already asked the Wagner Group to stop the construction of the trenches.[21]

Defense line in Crimea[edit]

Defense line on the Russia–Ukraine border[edit]

See also: Russia–Ukraine barrier

Zaluzhny line[edit]

In December 2023 there were talks of starting construction on the Zaluzhny line, named after the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi [22] Zelensky said that a new phase of the war had started and it coincided with the culmination of the poor results of the Ukrainian counter-offensive in 2023.[23][24] The Americans urged it and Zelensky approve it in a video released on 30 November. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin went to Kyiv to confer with Zelensky and Russian media suggested that the Ukrainians would receive money only for defensive purposes from that time onwards.[25] Zelensky told French media on 12 March 2024 that $520 million had been allocated for this purpose.[26][27] 2,000km of fortifications would be dug in:[27][25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Epstein, Jake (6 September 2023). "Ukraine's front-line forces are trying to fight their way through Russia's formidable Surovikin line. Here's what that is". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  2. ^ a b c "Guerre en Ukraine : "ligne Wagner" et "dents de dragons", le projet qui vise à ralentir Kiev". L'Express (in French). 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  3. ^ "Guerre en Ukraine: trois morts dans des explosions en Russie, près de la frontière ukrainienne". sudinfo.be (in French). 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  4. ^ "Qu'est-ce que la "ligne Wagner", construite par les Russes pour arrêter l'armée ukrainienne ?". CNEWS (in French). 28 October 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  5. ^ "Линия Пригожина Посмотрите, как ЧВК Вагнера строит оборонительные сооружения в Луганской области. Опыт Второй мировой показывает, что они могут оказаться бесполезны". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  6. ^ "Maxar shows fortifications of Russia's Wagner mercenary company near Hirske in Luhansk Oblast". news.yahoo.com. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  7. ^ War, Institute for the Study of. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 19". Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  8. ^ "Après avoir repris plus de 50% du territoire perdu en février, le plus dur reste à faire pour l'Ukraine". rts.ch (in French). 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  9. ^ a b BOISTAULT, Léa (27 October 2022) [27 October 2022]. "Guerre en Ukraine. Qu'est-ce que la " ligne Wagner ", cette ligne de défense russe voulue à l'est ?". Ouest-France. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Guerre en Ukraine : ces "dents de dragon" que les mercenaires de Wagner veulent semer pour contrer les blindés ukrainiens". Franceinfo (in French). 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  11. ^ "Dents de dragon" : le groupe Wagner construit une ligne fortifiée pour ralentir les Ukrainiens (in French), retrieved 2023-02-18
  12. ^ Mogul, Rhea (2022-10-21). "October 21, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  13. ^ ""Dents de dragon": le groupe russe Wagner construit une ligne fortifiée pour ralentir les Ukrainiens". BFMTV (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  14. ^ a b "Sur le front en Ukraine, une ligne de " dents de dragon "". www.20minutes.fr (in French). 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  15. ^ "Wagner PMC now builds anti-tank fortifications in Russia's Belgorod Oblast". EUROMAIDAN PRESS. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Ukraine : qu'est-ce que la "ligne Wagner", cette fortification dont se vantent les Russes ?". leparisien.fr (in French). 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  17. ^ SudOuest.fr (2022-10-26). "Guerre en Ukraine : les dents de dragon, quelle est cette nouvelle ligne de démarcation?" (in French). ISSN 1760-6454. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  18. ^ "Satellite photos reveal fortification plans in Russia-occupied Ukraine: Analysts". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  19. ^ Rahman, Khaleda (2022-10-23). "Kremlin rifts appearing as Putin's Chef sparks anger With 'Wagner line'—ISW". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  20. ^ ""Зубы дракона" на "Линии Вагнера". Остановят ли бетонные надолбы украинские танки?". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  21. ^ Piantadosi, Giulio Maria (2022-11-05). "Dientes de dragón: así es la línea Wagner, la trinchera rusa antitanque en Ucrania". elconfidencial.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  22. ^ "Ucraina, la controffensiva è fallita: Kiev si arrocca in difesa e blinda i suoi confini". 3 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Controffensiva ucraina congelata, cosa sta succedendo? Kiev cambia i piani, guerra ormai in stallo". 2 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Institute for the Study of War".
  25. ^ a b "Winter is here: Zelensky suddenly accepts Zaluzhny's proposal on defensive fortifications". December 2023.
  26. ^ "Ukraine strengthens defense with three lines of fortifications — Zelenskyy".
  27. ^ a b "Construction of Ukraine's sprawling 2,000-km defensive network proceeding apace, Zelenskyy says".
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