Expecting a new Russian offensive as the war approaches another year longer, Ukraine has built front-line trenches — adopting some of Russia's own trench design for an "active defense."
Ukraine's "Surovikin line" is a three-level trench with tank-busting traps and a network of minefields designed after Russia's own trenches that help them take over territory in the southern swaths seized by Russia earlier in the war, The Telegraph reported.
The 621-mile concrete trench, extending from the south to the border with Belarus, is similar to that fortification named after Russia's former "General Armageddon" Sergei Surovikin, helping Ukraine hold the line while it attempts to push back to reclaim occupied Russian areas in Donetsk and Kharkiv, according to the report.
"The issue for the Ukrainians is they don't want to just go static," Royal United Services Institute's Edward Arnold told The Telegraph. "If the lines go static and they don't move at all, that's not great from a political point of view.
"One of the principles of defense is offensive actions."
The key feature are the layers which give some flexibility to move the front line, while maintaining the second and third levels, including housing and training troops to get to the front line, according to the report.
"Static defenses are rarely a good idea for militaries, because it sort of fixes your own ability to maneuver," Arnold told The Telegraph.
The layers are about just a mile apart, giving strength and form.
"Each fort can defend itself from every direction," Atum Mundi's Clement Molin told The Telegraph. "You have to take all of them to advance."
Ukraine President Zelenskyy teased they were "significantly enhancing" the multilayered front lines late last year.
"I have just held a special, lengthy, and detailed meeting of the staff: First up, fortification," Zelenskyy said in a video address at the end of November. "We are significantly enhancing our fortifications. There were detailed reports at all levels: the general staff, the Ministry of Defense, the prime minister, regional authorities, commanders of the operational and strategic military formations. All finances are available. All decisions are in place.
"There should be comprehensive corresponding work in the communities. Everything is fully itemized — our country will definitely have enough mines and concrete. We need greater speed and efficiency, and everyone who is responsible for this has clear tasks."
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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