UK Defense Ministry: Russia fortifying approaches to Crimea.

Russia has been building up rear defensive lines in southern Ukraine over the past weeks, particularly on the approaches to occupied Crimea, the U.K. Defense Ministry wrote[1] on June 21. According to the report, this includes a nine-kilometers-long defense zone on the narrow land bridge between Crimea and Kherson Oblast, 3.5 kilometers north of the city of Armiansk on the occupied peninsula.

"These elaborate defenses highlight the Russian command's assessment that Ukrainian forces are capable of directly assaulting Crimea," the U.K. intelligence said. London pointed out Russian concerns[2] about defending Crimea already in May. Local proxies are reportedly building up paramilitary forces, worried that Russian regulars may not be sufficient for a successful defense.

Ukraine has set itself the goal of total liberation of the occupied territories, including Crimea. Amid the ongoing counteroffensive, Ukraine's forces report[3] successful offensive operations on the southern front line with advances up to seven kilometers. At the same time, Russian troops are redeploying[4] to the embattled Zaporizhzhia Oblast to halt Ukrainian advances.

Ukraine war latest: Military reports advance in the south, says 'biggest strike still ahead'

Key developments on June 20: * Russian forces attack first responders in Kherson Oblast, killing 1, injuring 7 * Ukrainian forces reportedly advance south as fierce fighting is ongoing * Evacuation in flooded Kherson Oblast finished, emergency service says * Biden: Threat of Russia using tactic...

News Editor

Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He also volunteers as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukrainer.

Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.

References

1. ^ wrote (twitter.com)
2. ^ concerns (kyivindependent.com)
3. ^ report (kyivindependent.com)
4. ^ redeploying (kyivindependent.com)
5. ^ Ukraine war latest: Military reports advance in the south, says 'biggest strike still ahead'Key developments on June 20: * Russian forces attack first responders in Kherson Oblast, killing 1, injuring 7 * Ukrainian forces reportedly advance south as fierce fighting is ongoing * Evacuation in flooded Kherson Oblast finished, emergency service says * Biden: Threat of Russia using tactic... (kyivindependent.com)