Ukraine fortifies defenses in anticipation of major Russian strike
Russia is preparing for a major strike that could occur within a month. "The times of rapid breakthroughs on the battlefields are over. There is nothing Ukrainians can do but support each other" - writes "The New York Times". The race against time to maintain defensive lines continues.
22 April 2024 17:17
According to analysis from the American newspaper, Kyiv is building fortifications similar to those made by Putin's soldiers wanting to protect against the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2022.
"Russia built something very similar in late 2022 to repel a Ukrainian counteroffensive. But now the tables have turned. Ditches. Concrete obstacles to funnel enemy tanks into positions where they can be more easily attacked. Trenches for soldiers to fire from. It all adds up to the Ukrainians’ grim new reality: Russia appears ready to hit hard, and all they can do is try to slow it down." - we read.
The race against time
Ukraine awaits a £52 billion aid package from the USA. On Tuesday, the bill will go to the US Senate, and then to Joe Biden's office, who announced that he will sign it immediately. From the signature to the first deliveries will take a few days.
"But what Ukraine really needs is time. Training those new troops will take months, and the European equipment will arrive gradually, over the course of the year. Analysts believe that Ukraine is unlikely to start a major counteroffensive this year, choosing instead to spend the time reconstituting its forces." - writes "NYT".
Kyiv has been boasting impressive defensive lines for several weeks now, which include anti-tank ditches, dragon's teeth, and trenches. The Ukrainian government has allocated about £680 million this year to build fortifications along about 1,000 kilometres of the front line, and the construction is already at an advanced stage.
The head of Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR), General Kyrylo Budanov, predicts that the war situation will become difficult for Ukraine from mid-May to early June, but without catastrophic consequences.
Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has built long defensive lines in two southern regions – Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. In addition to the new fortifications in the south, Pentagon officials and independent analysts have also pointed to those near Avdiivka in the east.
Key defense against Russian offensive
"The Ukrainian military is eager to prevent a repeat of what happened around Avdiivka in February, after that city was captured by the Russians. Meager Ukrainian defenses allowed the enemy to keep pushing west. So far, four officials said in interviews, the results have been mixed. A robust, multilayer tiered defense is still weeks away, if not months, they said." - the newspaper alarms.
James Rands, a military analyst at Janes, a London-based intelligence company, said that "the defenses Ukraine built during earlier conflicts with Russia were exceptional. In Donbas, he said, the bunkers were dry and protected with overhead cover, fire-proofing and ballistic protection. The trenches were reinforced."
"With Russia now mounting a full invasion, Ukraine is unlikely to be able to do that again," said Rands.
"The positions they have fallen back to are not in the same league by any stretch of the imagination. Ukraine now needs to build a series of defensive positions whilst in contact — which is difficult," Rands admitted.
