Posted on 12/16/2022 8:55:36 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
Trenches are not new to Ukraine. Trench warfare has long been a feature of the battle in eastern Ukraine for the Donbas region. Ukrainians fight from their own trenches on their side of the line near Popasna, where Russians are waging an intense campaign to dislodge Ukrainian troops from the city of Bakhmut.
But the pace and the scale of Russian construction over the last couple of months is unmatched. All of the structures in the image above appeared within six days.
The fortifications show how Russia’s military is trying to set up more robust, defensible positions against Ukrainian pressure, often with the help of natural obstacles like rivers.
Last month, Ukraine recaptured a large amount of territory in the south, including the regional capital of Kherson, pushing Russian forces across the Dnipro River. The river serves as a natural barrier, and Russia has built an enormous series of defensive obstacles south of the river to discourage Ukraine from crossing it.
Among the defenses are miles-long rows of concrete pyramids known as dragon’s teeth and deep ditches called tank traps. Both are designed to slow Ukrainian vehicles and force them into preset positions where Russian forces can target them.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Shades of the Kursk Salient and Operation Citadel.
If by "pushing" the NY Times fabulists Marco Hernandez and Josh Holder mean "Russia withdrew to draw the Ulrainians into an artillery fire bag in Kherson city", then they're accurate.
How dare you post pro Ruzzian propaganda?
“… miles-long rows of concrete pyramids known as dragon’s teeth and deep ditches called tank traps..
Sounds like the Russkies have been studying French defensive measures. They’ve created their own Maginot Line.
Quite amazing the “2nd” largest military is digging defensive positions. Stunning what a relatively few western weapons systems in the hands of Ukrainians have done to not only stop but reverse much of Russia’s initial gains. Love the talk about retreat in Kherson was just a trap. Not the actions of a military with the initiative. Equally fascinating is the talk of a Russian offensive to take Kiev, again. I think the results would be akin to the Germans battle of the bulge where hitler squandered all of spear’s efforts to arm the Germans. The first attempt failed against a mostly unprepared and woefully under armed Ukraine. This time without the benefit of a more experienced and equipped force the Russians will go for take 2.
Looks like the people of Crimea are voting with their feet as well
Not so formidable fortifications - they can be flanked or destroyed by artillery; the Dragon’s Teeth are poorly cast light weight, un-anchored, concrete blobs easily pushed aside, and made by the lowest bidder.
Poor design, straight line trenches are fine for laying pipe, but not very useful for defense. Proper trenches zig zag to make harder for an attacker to turn the defenders flank. I don’t think the trenches in the photos would hold up long under a sustained assault.
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Static defenses in the 21st century. How quaint.
Fighting the second to last war.
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