This is how Ukraine is trying to save itself. “Russians press everywhere”
However, the reconstruction is difficult by the chaotic approach to strengthening the front line, where local commanders use very different strategies. More complex defensive positions are also much less effective due to the chronic lack of soldiers in Ukraine.
The change in the fortification strategy results from Russia's resignation from the attacks of large formations supported by armored vehicles in favor of smaller units supported by drones – said the Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rust Rust Last week.
Ukraine reacts with the construction of fortifications for smaller and smaller units – from battalions of about 500 soldiers, through companies with about 100 soldiers, and currently for platoons for 20 to 50 soldiers.
“We currently see that the most effective position is maximum one branch. These are mainly groups of trenches, and even the so -called trenches that prevent the enemy from using shock drones. Finally, the drone, especially equipped with optical fibers, can penetrate through any hole, “told journalists in Kiev at the end of June the commander of the Ukrainian army Oleksandr Syrski.
Not only trenches
Earlier, resistance points used extensive trench networks from 2 to 5 km long. The new system uses smaller points with trench networks with a length of 60 to 70 m, equipped with mandatory Antimalous covers. “They are more difficult to detect and effective in performing defense, scares and providing firepower, including FPV drones,” said Diestov.
Behind this defense line, Ukraine continues the construction of two additional lines, which include concrete quadruple, also known as dragon teeth, which are to stop armored vehicles, minefields, trenches, wooden and concrete ditches, antibodular shields and networks.
“Fortifications are not only concrete and trenches – it is an adaptive engineering system that takes into account the tactics of the enemy and always serves one goal: protecting our soldiers. Every day we monitor this process and strengthen the areas that need it the most,” said dies.
Earlier, fortifications were often built in open ground to stop Russian attacks using a large number of armored vehicles. Currently, they are built around the forest belts that provide better camouflage.
Chaos on the front
The highest command claims that the army is good at building fortifications. The vast majority of allocated plans were implemented last year, and more than half of the plans for this year are ready – added dieow.
However, according to analysts and soldiers with whom Politico talked, The situation on the front looks much worse.
In the Dnieper, a city in central Ukraine, where the army, local government and other organs cooperate, helping each other with money, tools and resources, three solid defense lines were quickly built to stop Russia's attack from the Donetsk region.
However, the situation is much more uncertain in northeastern Ukraine, where Russia is currently conducting a serious offensive.
– What is happening in the regions of Sum and Kharkov is chaos. Almost nobody knows who is responsible for and who is to control this process – said Roman Pohoriłyj, co -founder of Deepstate, the Ukrainian Osint group, who created the online map of Russia's war against Ukraine. He added that the last Russian offensive forced the Ukrainian authorities to accelerate construction.
“We always wait until the last moment,” he noted. He also criticized the chaotic approach of the authorities to strengthening the front line in the key area around the northeast of the SUM region.
Poor organization
– For example, in the town of Junakiwka in the summary region we saw the mountains of dragon teeth simply abandoned on the spot. There are trenches in some places, but then nothing in the forest where they should be, and then the trenches again. I would punish those who are responsible for this approach – said Pohoriłyj.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense supervises all fortifications, but several different entities are responsible for their construction and maintenance, depending on the defense line: the forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service of the Ministry of Defense and local military and civil administrations.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Szmyhal said in January that last year the government spent 46.2 billion hryvnia (PLN 4 billion) on the construction of 3,000. defensive points “in dangerous directions and places where active warfare is currently not taking place.”
Combat troops perform the most dangerous work.
“Ukrainian soldiers still have to kick the first line of trenches with shovels during active fights, “said Syrski.
However, he added that all kinds of fortifications are effective only if they are planted sufficient number of soldiers. Despite the mobilization of Kyiv, he still has fewer soldiers than Russia on a 1.2 thousand front. km.
“Russians press everywhere”
“If there are no soldiers in the fortifications or there are too few of them – for example, when a normal resistance point was built, but two or three soldiers remained in it – of course These fortifications do not fulfill their function” – said Syrski.
Russian soldiers are looking for weak points in the Ukrainian defense – Two soldiers who talked to Politico said provided anonymity.
– It all depends on the commander. If it arms to dig and minimals, the area will be solidly fortified. If [Rosjanie] They will see that your unit is well -dripped, they will attack neighboring units – said one of them.
So -called Dragon's teeth in the Dnipropetrovsk region, June 25, 2025.
Pohoriłyj confirmed the technique used by the Russians. – The Russians press everywhere, look for weak and problematic places, they know them all. As soon as they find them, they immediately focus their resources and troops and They begin to break through the defense line He said. – And then, unfortunately, our defense begins to break down.
Soldiers also complain that the army does not use combat prey to build trenches and other barriers that would stop Russian counterattacks.
Ukrainian soldiers spent six months in the Russian Kurski region, stopping over 60,000 Russians before entering the catfish circuit. They claim that they have gained a lot of time for the authorities to build appropriate fortifications in the border zone.
Lost Ukrainian time
– We gave time to prepare a border zone for a Russian attack. But It was not fully used. Protective nets against FPV drones over the main supply roads began to be installed only in January, while they were already regularly attacked by Russian drones – said Politico Ukrainian soldier Artem Kariakin.
-As a result, the route, which from August to December 2024 could be completely and safely covered with mesh, was turned into a way of life, which our weapon systems could travel without damage with a 30-70 % probability unfavorable for us-he added.
He noted that local authorities and military units began digging trenches in the border zone and the installation of the first teeth of the dragon only after the Ukrainian forces withdrawn from Kursk.
– As a result, before many trenches were completed, The Russians were much closerand many items have lost their meaning. I believe that the people responsible for the fortifications lost a huge amount of time and ultimately did not complete their task. The works were carried out, but with large and extremely illogical delays – said Kariakin.
According to Deepstate, the Russian troops took only in June 500 sq km of Ukrainian territorywhich is the fastest pace of attack for many months.
