When will Ukraine launch the long-awaited counteroffensive? After months of stalemate, kyiv’s troops will search to point out that they will make progress on the battlefield with the weapons they’ve obtained from the West. The British channel BBC has examined lots of of satellite tv for pc pictures and has recognized 4 locations the place Russia has constructed defenses in anticipation of the counteroffensive. In southern Ukraine, Kremlin troops have been amassing trenches and different fortifications since final October.
The west coast of Crimea. In this area, taken over by Russia in 2014, Russia has put in protection constructions alongside the 25 kilometers of shoreline. They are referred to as “dragon’s tooth”, pyramid-shaped concrete blocks designed to dam the passage of tanks and different navy automobiles. In the satellite tv for pc pictures, taken in March, you may also see a number of bunkers beneath building alongside the trenches. Some specialists will not be clear if the fortifications are to defend or deter.
Tokmak (Zaporizhia). This small city is situated on a key route within the southeast of Ukraine. kyiv’s troops might wish to use it to isolate Crimea from different Russian-controlled territories. Civilians have been reportedly evacuated to show the city right into a navy fortress. Satellite pictures present how trenches have been dug on two traces north of Tokmak, the place Ukraine must assault. Behind, a number of rows of dragon tooth.
The strategic freeway E105. A line of ditches and anti-tank trenches runs 35 kilometers alongside the primary E105 highway, west of Tokmak, with nice strategic significance. It connects Melitopol, in Russian arms, within the south, with Kharkov, within the north and within the arms of Ukraine. If Ukrainian forces attempt to use this route, they’d be within the crosshairs of Russian heavy artillery.
Rivnopil, north of Mariupol. The port of Mariupol has a strategic place between the Russian-occupied territories within the east. It additionally grew to become a logo of resistance to the invasion when a tough core of fighters held out for months whereas the town was beneath siege. The pictures would present that Russia is making ready to defend areas within the open discipline, that’s, in areas with out hills or rivers.
Some analysts consider that Ukrainian forces can use drone surveillance footage to establish and circumvent many of those defenses. Others don’t rule out that the photographs of defenses are straightforward to acquire, as deliberate by Russia to attempt to cease the counteroffensive at these key factors.
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