Slaidiņš: Ukraine has built a new 300-km defense line in the east
Latvian National Armed Forces Major Jānis Slaidiņš says Ukraine has constructed an extensive, multi-layered fortification system designed to slow Russia's offensive rather than stop it outright.
Speaking on the TV24 program "Aktuālais par karadarbību Ukrainā," Major Jānis Slaidiņš of the Latvian National Armed Forces, an officer with the National Guard staff, described recent developments in Ukraine's defensive fortifications. According to him, Ukrainian forces have built a new defense line roughly 300 kilometers long in the eastern part of the country.
The system includes anti-tank ditches, concrete anti-armor obstacles commonly known as "dragon's teeth," and several consecutive layers of defense. Slaidiņš explained that the defense is organized in echelons, with one line followed by another, then another, and another.
Adapting to the drone threat
Given the growing role of drones in modern warfare, today's defensive positions differ significantly from those built in the past. In certain sections, roads are covered with netting to protect against drone strikes, while corridors are still preserved to allow maneuvering of troops and equipment. Minefields have also been laid across parts of the territory.
Slowing down, not stopping, the advance
The expert stressed that even such an extensive fortification system cannot, on its own, fully halt Russia's offensive. Its main purpose is to reduce the pace of the attack and make the advance of enemy forces more difficult.
As an example, Slaidiņš pointed to the situation in the Donetsk region, where some Ukrainian defense lines had previously not been completed. He noted that Russian forces still needed considerable time to advance through these unfinished positions. This suggests that even an incomplete fortification system can significantly slow an attacking force, while fully built, multi-layered defense lines could reduce the pace of Russia's offensive even further.
