Russia’s changing attack tactics are forcing Ukraine to adapt by creating smaller defensive lines and constructing low forts less visible to unmanned aircraft that sweep the sky. However, this restructuring is undermined by a chaotic approach to strengthening the first lines, with local governors using very different approaches.

The change in the fortification strategy is due to Russia that stops the attacks of large formations supported by armored vehicles in favor of much smaller units backed by unmanned aircraft, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umero said last week.

Ukraine responds to these changes by constructing fortifications for ever smaller units – from about 500 soldiers to about 100 soldiers, and now for squads of 20 to 50 soldiers.

“Now we see that the most effective position is at most one excerpt. And these are mainly groups of trenches, even the so -called fox holes, which make it impossible to use unmanned impact aircraft by the enemy. After all, now an unmanned aircraft, especially in fiber optic, can penetrate any hole, “said Ukrainian Army Chief Alexander Srski to reporters in Kiev in late June.

Previously, the forts used extensive 2 to 5 km long ditches networks. The new system uses smaller forts with 60 to 70 meters long trenches and equipped with mandatory coverage against drones. “These are more difficult to identify and are effective in executing defense, deterrence and fire supply missions, including the fight against FPV drones,” Umero said.

Behind this defens ‘Dragon’s teeth’, For removing armored vehicles, landmines, wooden and concrete trenches, covers and nets against drones.

“The fortification is not just about concrete and trenches – it is an adaptive mechanical system that takes into account the enemy’s tactics and always serves one purpose: the protection of our warriors. We are monitoring the process daily and strengthen areas where needed more, “Umero said.

In the past, fortifications were often manufactured on open ground to prevent Russian attacks using a large number of armored vehicles. Now, they are made around forest zones, which have better camouflage.

Who builds what

The Supreme Administration insists that the army is doing a good job in the construction of fortifications. The overwhelming majority of the plans assigned were completed last year and more than half of those planned for this year have already been completed, Umero said.

In Dnipro, a city in Central Ukraine where there is complicity between the army, local authorities and other bodies that act together to assist with money, tools and resources, three lines of defense have been firmly and quickly created to intercept Russia’s proceedings from the region.

But the situation is much more tense in northeast Ukraine, where Russia is now launching a major attack.

“What happens in the areas of Sumi and Harcovo is a mess. Almost no one knows who is responsible for what and who is supposed to control the process, “said Roman Pohorili, co -founder of Deepstate, a Ukrainian Osint team that created an online map of Russia’s war against Ukraine. He added that the last Russian attack eventually prompted the Ukrainian authorities to accelerate construction work.

“We always wait until the last minute,” he said.

It also criticized the inconsistent approach of county to strengthen the first lines in the critical zone around the northeast area of ​​Sumi.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has the supervision of all fortifications, but several different entities are responsible for their construction and maintenance, depending on the defense line: Ukraine Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Defense.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Dennis Smichal said in January that last year the government spent 930 million euros on the construction of 3,000 defensive points “in threatening directions and in places where there are no active hostilities.”

Troop

However, any type of fortified structure is only effective if occupied by a sufficient number of troops, Srski said. Despite the mobilization efforts, Kiev is still shorter than Russia at the forefront of 1,200 kilometers.

“If there are no soldiers in the fortification or their number is inadequate – for example, when a regular fort is constructed, two or three soldiers remain in it – of course, this fortification does not play its role,” Srski said.

Russian soldiers are looking for weaknesses in Ukraine’s defense, according to two soldiers, who spoke to Politico on the condition of anonymity so they could speak freely.

“It all depends on the commander. If he or she ordered to dig and make narcotics, the area will be strongly fortified. If [οι Ρώσοι] They see the unit well dug, they will attack the neighboring units, “said one soldier.

Unhappy soldiers

Soldiers also complain that the army does not use profits correctly From the battlefield to build trenches and other obstacles to stop Russian counterattacks.

Ukrainian soldiers spent six months in the Russian region of Kursk, preventing more than 60,000 Russian troops from moving to Sumi. They argue that they have earned plenty of time for the authorities to build appropriate fortifications in the border zone.

“We gave time to prepare the border area for the Russian attack. But they did not use it with 100% efficiency. Protective nets from FPV drones over the main refueling roads began to settle only in January, and were already receiving regular Russian attacks with drones, “said Ukrainian soldier Artem Kariakin.

He also said that local authorities and military units began digging shelters in the border area and installing the first teeth of the dragon as soon as the Ukrainian forces retreated from Kursk.

“As a result, when many of the shelters were completed, the Russians were already much closer and many places lost their importance. I believe that the fortifications were lost in huge time and eventually failed in their work. The project was done, but with great and extremely irrational delays, “Kariakin said.

Only in June, Russian troops occupied 500 square kilometers of Ukrainian land, Deepstate said, this is the fastest pace of progress for many months.