Ukraine builds 300-kilometer defense line that could delay Russian army for years
Ukraine has constructed a new roughly 300-kilometer fortification belt between Izium and Orikhiv that Russian forces may need years to overcome. This could again derail Kremlin plans for a rapid advance into the unoccupied part of Donbas.
Ukrainian defense forces have built an extensive new fortification system stretching between Izium and Orikhiv, with a total length of approximately 300 kilometers, according to a report by the Dialog.ua portal.
OSINT analyst Clément Molin assesses that Russian forces could need several years to fully break through this defensive line. This would mean the Kremlin's hopes of quickly seizing the unoccupied part of the Donbas region may once again fail to materialize.
Multiple layers of defense
The newly built defense belt includes anti-tank ditches, concrete "dragon's teeth" obstacles, and several successive layers of barriers and obstructions. In some sections, the width of these fortifications reaches up to 100 meters.
Behind the fortified belt, in forests and forest strips, Ukrainian infantry and drone operator positions have been deployed, adding further depth to the defense.
Not stopping, but slowing
The analyst notes that this type of defense system cannot fully halt a Russian offensive on its own. However, it significantly slows the advance of enemy forces and inflicts substantial losses on the attacking side.
As an example, one section is cited where even an unfinished defensive line managed to hold back the advance of Russian forces for about nine months, illustrating the effectiveness of such fortifications even before their completion.
