Massive Fortification Efforts Underway in Kharkiv Region
13 March, 2024 Ukrainian line of defense in the Kharkiv region. March, 2024. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images Large-scale efforts have begun in the Kharkiv region to construct fortifications at hundreds of sites. The Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, stated that they install dragon's teeth, dig anti-tank ditches, and erect strongholds and dugouts.
"To date, work has begun on almost hundreds more objects, having previously cleared territories," added Oleh Syniehubov. Over 500 workers and more than 200 pieces of machinery are involved in the construction of fortifications. "All schedules are agreed, reinforced concrete structures are supplied unhindered," informed Oleh Syniehubov.
Ukrainian line of defense in the Kharkiv region. March, 2024. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images
Builders work in extremely difficult conditions, sometimes under Russian strikes.
Defense lines of Kharkiv region
This month, a second line of fortifications began to be erected n the Kharkiv region along the border with Russia. It consists of a network of platoon strongpoints, which are connected into company strongholds, creating a continuous strip of trenches and fortifications. Each platoon strongpoint is preceded by both explosive and non-explosive barriers.
Explosives are installed by the military when they begin to use a platoon strongpoint.
Ukrainian line of defense in the Kharkiv region. March, 2024. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Oleh Syniehubov
Non-explosive - anti-tank ditches and the so-called "dragon's teeth" (concrete pyramids in three rows, which should stop the enemy's armored vehicles) - are equipped by civilian builders right now throughout the region. Dragon's teeth are spaced approximately 2-2.5 meters apart from each other in staggered order. The anti-tank ditch has a depth and a width of 2.5 meters.
Ukrainian line of defense in the Kharkiv region. March, 2024. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images
Behind such engineering barriers is a system of concrete and non-concrete fire positions, reinforced concrete underground dugouts, and trenches, either open or overhead protected. Almost all fortifications of the second line of defense are being built in territories that were deoccupied in the fall of 2022. The first fortifications were erected in Kharkiv and on its outskirts as the invaders were pushed back in early 2022.
Ukrainian line of defense in the Kharkiv region. March, 2024. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Oleh Syniehubov
Now it has actually become the third line of defense. The first line is the front line, and this is the position where the Defense Forces are now deployed. Work on the construction of the second line of defense must be completed within two months.
This is the third stage of the construction of defensive structures in the Kharkiv region. It involves the construction of hundreds of platoon strongholds with trenches thousands of meters long.
According to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, the Kharkiv region in 2024 should receive UAH 3.9 billion for the new line of defense.