Highlights: With the construction of 2000 km of fortifications, Ukraine is preparing for a long war. President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed in an interview with French media Le Monde and BFMTV that his country was creating a triple line of defense along the front line. These fortifications will consist of a set of trenches, armored casemates, anti-tank structures called dragons' teeth. For the Kiev army, such works have become essential, while the firepower of the Ukrainian army has considerably decreased.

On March 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed in an interview with French media outlets Le Monde and BFMTV that his country was creating a triple line of defense along the front line, supposedly…

With the construction of 2000 km of fortifications, Ukraine is preparing for a long war

On March 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed in an interview with French media

Le Monde

and BFMTV that his country was creating a triple line of defense along the front line, meant to protect Ukrainian territory from possible advance. Russian forces, while waiting for better days.

A newly constructed trench as part of a new fortification line, in the Kharkiv region, March 12, 2024. REUTERS - Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Kiev,

Stéphane Siohan

In Ukraine, due to a lack of

sufficient

ammunition , the civil and military authorities are now relying on the construction of fortifications.

On February 12, the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Chmyhal, announced the allocation by the Ukrainian state of a sum of 520 million dollars, intended for the construction of three successive lines of fortifications on the Ukrainian side of the line of forehead.

This impressive device, 2,000 kilometers long, will crisscross the south of the country, in the Zaporizhia region, as well as the east, in the areas of Donbass still controlled by the Ukrainian government, but will also extend to the north in the regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernigiv, kyiv, and well beyond, in order to prevent any incursion from Belarus.

Lack of ammunition

These fortifications will consist of a set of trenches, armored casemates, anti-tank structures called dragons' teeth, ultimately quite similar to the triple Surovikin line that Russia set up a year ago in the south of the Ukraine, and which was met by the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the summer of 2023.

“Dragon’s teeth”, these anti-tank obstacles, are to be installed on the new line of fortifications in the Zaporizhia region.

REUTERS - Stringer

For the Kiev army, such works have become essential, while the firepower of the Ukrainian army has considerably decreased and the Russian army has been nibbling away at portions of territory since Ukraine's loss of the city of 'Avdiivka in Donbass.

However, many soldiers do not understand why the authorities waited two years before financing the construction of fortifications, when now the entire front line is under great pressure.

With the construction of 2000 km of fortifications, Ukraine is preparing for a long war

With the construction of 2000 km of fortifications, Ukraine is preparing for a long war

Lack of ammunition

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest