Russia has built numerous defense lines in Ukraine during its invasion.

Surovikin Line

The Surovikin Line is a complex set of fortifications in southeastern Ukraine, engineered by and named for Russian general Sergey Surovikin. Surovikin had the line built during his tenure as the overall theater commander immediately after Ukraine's 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive.[1]

Wagner Line

The Wagner Line (Russian: линии Вагнера, romanized: linyy Vagnera, Ukrainian: Лінія Вагнера, romanized: Liniya Vahnera) is a defense line built in eastern Ukraine by the Wagner paramilitary group during the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Overview

On 19 October 2022, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the paramilitary group Wagner,[2] announced that he had begun the construction of a defense line.[3]

The aim is to prevent Ukrainian troops from advancing towards the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, which was annexed by Russia in September.[4][5]

According to the Russian media, it is a "second line of defence in case the Ukrainian armed forces try to penetrate the area.[6][7]

In a report dated 21 November 2022, the British Ministry of Defence considered that Moscow prioritized the construction of defensive positions on the Svatove–Kreminna line.[8]

Structure

The line consists of two double rows of pyramidal concrete blocks called "dragon's teeth" to block tanks from advancing.[9][10][11][12] Between these two defensive curtains, a deep trench and firing stations complete the device.[10] It is not known whether the line has mines.[9]

The project foresees about 200 km (120 mi) of fortifications in eastern Ukraine, up to the Russian border.[10][13][14] The line shall extend on a south-north axis starting from the city of Svitlodarsk, along the front line to the Donets River, and then form an acute angle again eastwards, following the course of the river to the border.[2]

Andrey Bogatov, another leader of the Wagner Group, said that construction of the line had also begun in Belgorod Oblast, Russia.[15]

Efficiency

Several experts questioned the efficiency of the line.

For Xavier Tytelman, a conflict observer and defence consultant, "The dragon's teeth should be partially buried so that only the tip can pass through. A simple armoured bulldozer is enough to turn them over".[16]

According to the Ukrainian Governor of Luhansk Region, Sergey Gaidai, only 2 km have been built to date.[2][17] The ABC News considers -through the study of satellite photos - that 12 km have been built.[18]

According to the ISW, Prigozhin's proposed extension of the Wagner Line is intended to defend the border between Belgorod Oblast and the Ukrainian oblasts of Sumy, Kharkiv and Luhansk, but "would not cover the northern part of Luhansk Oblast up to the line of contact with the occupied territories, thus contradicting the Kremlin's promises to defend the entire Luhansk region".[19]

Dragon teeth are not buried or camouflaged, which, according to a BBC article, severely limits their effectiveness.[20]

It may also be noted that the line does not protect the city of Sievierodonetsk.[14] The local authorities in Belgorod have already asked the Wagner Group to stop the construction of the trenches.[21]

Defense line in Crimea

Defense line on the Russia–Ukraine border

Khrenin Line

The "Khrenin Line", named for Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin is located near Homel in Belarus, 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Belarus–Ukraine border. It is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) in total, and includes dragon's teeth anti-tank barriers and trenches.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Epstein, Jake. "Ukraine's front-line forces are trying to fight their way through Russia's formidable Surovikin Line. Here's what that is". Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  2. 1 2 3 "Guerre en Ukraine : "ligne Wagner" et "dents de dragons", le projet qui vise à ralentir Kiev". L'Express (in French). 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  3. ↑ "Guerre en Ukraine: trois morts dans des explosions en Russie, près de la frontière ukrainienne". sudinfo.be (in French). 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  4. ↑ "Qu'est-ce que la "ligne Wagner", construite par les Russes pour arrêter l'armée ukrainienne ?". CNEWS (in French). 28 October 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  5. ↑ "Линия Пригожина Посмотрите, как ЧВК Вагнера строит оборонительные сооружения в Луганской области. Опыт Второй мировой показывает, что они могут оказаться бесполезны". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  6. ↑ "Maxar shows fortifications of Russia's Wagner mercenary company near Hirske in Luhansk Oblast". news.yahoo.com. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  7. ↑ War, Institute for the Study of. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 19". Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  8. ↑ "Après avoir repris plus de 50% du territoire perdu en février, le plus dur reste à faire pour l'Ukraine". rts.ch (in French). 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  9. 1 2 BOISTAULT, Léa (27 October 2022) [27 October 2022]. "Guerre en Ukraine. Qu'est-ce que la " ligne Wagner ", cette ligne de défense russe voulue à l'est ?". Ouest-France. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Guerre en Ukraine : ces "dents de dragon" que les mercenaires de Wagner veulent semer pour contrer les blindés ukrainiens". Franceinfo (in French). 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  11. ↑ "Dents de dragon" : le groupe Wagner construit une ligne fortifiée pour ralentir les Ukrainiens (in French), retrieved 2023-02-18
  12. ↑ Mogul, Rhea (2022-10-21). "October 21, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  13. ↑ ""Dents de dragon": le groupe russe Wagner construit une ligne fortifiée pour ralentir les Ukrainiens". BFMTV (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  14. 1 2 "Sur le front en Ukraine, une ligne de " dents de dragon "". www.20minutes.fr (in French). 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  15. ↑ "Wagner PMC now builds anti-tank fortifications in Russia's Belgorod Oblast". EUROMAIDAN PRESS. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Ukraine : qu'est-ce que la "ligne Wagner", cette fortification dont se vantent les Russes ?". leparisien.fr (in French). 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  17. ↑ SudOuest.fr (2022-10-26). "Guerre en Ukraine : les dents de dragon, quelle est cette nouvelle ligne de démarcation?" (in French). ISSN 1760-6454. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  18. ↑ "Satellite photos reveal fortification plans in Russia-occupied Ukraine: Analysts". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  19. ↑ Rahman, Khaleda (2022-10-23). "Kremlin rifts appearing as Putin's Chef sparks anger With 'Wagner line'—ISW". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  20. ↑ ""Зубы дракона" на "Линии Вагнера". Остановят ли бетонные надолбы украинские танки?". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  21. ↑ Piantadosi, Giulio Maria (2022-11-05). "Dientes de dragón: así es la línea Wagner, la trinchera rusa antitanque en Ucrania". elconfidencial.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  22. ↑ "Satellite Imagery Captures New Defensive Fortifications In Belarus Near Ukrainian Border". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.