@solonko1648, who's a serving Ukrainian soldier, has published an excellent pair of threads in Ukrainian describing how the Russian system of trenches and firing positions works. It's a very helpful insight into why they have been so difficult to overcome.
He focuses on a Russian fortified stronghold between the villages of Robotyne and Novoprokopivka, through which the road from one village to the other runs. Tokmak lies further along the same road, which is currently contested. The following thread translates his description:
By @solonko1648:
This, dear friends, is one of the most difficult strongholds located in the Robotyne-Novoprokopivka area. A complex system of trenches-tunnels, dugouts, firing positions, to which the Russian invaders cling with all their might... 🧵 /1
What we see first. A system of trenches and firing positions. From observation and tracking of the movements of the occupiers' equipment and personnel, we confirm movement and approach routes to the position. /2
In general, these routes should be obvious, but of course, all the data should be studied and the information verified. That's why this is a formal process. Next, we see from above how these positions are equipped. We see the overlapping of dugouts. /3
But that's not all. Some of the trenches are covered over for a long distance. They may not be tunnels in the classical sense, but technically they are. This is actually a trench-tunnel, designed to hide the number of personnel and their movements in the trenches. /4
With the help of aerial reconnaissance, we determine not only which route the occupiers take to enter/leave. We also identify the entrances/exits of this stronghold/trench system. /5
A little more about the "tunnels". According to the soldiers of the frontline units, there is a classic tunnel here. It's under the road that leads from Robotyne to Novoprokopivka. It connects both flanks of this system. /6
Moreover, we also know that dugouts have been dug here, which actually have a second underground floor, going deep into the ground. While we were waiting for the shells, the occupiers were digging. And they dug long and deep. /7
After fierce fighting and artillery shelling, our artillery "opened" the dugouts and covered trenches. After that, it became clearer how much more difficult the task was. 8/
Furthermore, in the area where the main entrance to these positions is located from the west, it is only after a dense artillery barrage that the untrained eye will become aware of how well some of the trench-tunnels on this side were camouflaged. /9
The occupiers successfully used the forest belt to prepare and camouflage these positions. Such positions require us to conduct very thorough and vigilant reconnaissance. The occupiers know what we are interested in and try prevent us from conducting it properly. /10
You can watch the process in this video. /11
Now I will talk about the eastern part of the fortification. /12
It is not so much a separate fortified point as part of an extensive system, overcoming which was an extremely difficult task, taking into account the features of the hostilities, the terrain and the ratio of forces and means that I talked about. /13
The two main parts of the fortifications are connected by an underground tunnel that runs under the road. This way, the road is controlled and still used for its intended purpose. /14
Note the shape of the trench in front of the forest plantation (except for the area near the road). We have already seen a similar structure on the defence line that stretched northwest of Verbove. /15
Also note another example of the use of terrain. The system of fortifications uses the plantation to cover the entrance and exit. There are also fortifications in the rear. A circular defence pattern is observed. /16
Here, too, the artillery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces performed the task of "opening" the trenches built in the style of tunnels. A similar picture could be seen in the western part of these fortifications on the other side of the road, which I analysed earlier. /17
Also note the layout of the trenches closer to the road. Imagine what it would be like to storm/clear them. Another sceptical remark to the adherents of "elastic defence". No one was going to leave here even to return. They clung to this stronghold with all their might. /18
And then there's the wormhole. Another reminder that some people like to call the Russian invaders worms. /19
1/ Russian 'grey imports' to support the war effort are facing a crisis, following simultaneous crackdowns by Chinese, Kazakh and Russian customs officials. Thousands of truckloads of drone parts and medical supplies are said to be stuck at the border. ⬇️
2/ Much of the frontline Russian army's supplies comes from 'humanitarian aid' organised by volunteer groups, who purchase supplies from Chinese companies and ship it overland to Russia – either directly across the Chinese border or via Kazakhstan, which is cheaper.
3/ However, multiple Russian warbloggers say that the customs services of all three countries have cracked down on grey imports, for differing reasons. They warn that this threatens a crisis for the front lines, and the loss of many Russian soldiers' lives.
1/ The Russian warblogger Maxim Kalashnikov says that on parts of the front line, the ratio of killed and wounded is "almost 1:1 already". His friend Yuri Yevich blames Ukrainian drones for preventing evacuations at any time of the day or night. ⬇️
2/ In a video interview, Kalashnikov and Yevich discuss what Kalashnikov calls "a terrible problem":
3/ "I judge by what they write about evacuations and medical losses. That is, our wounded are not being transported for objective reasons and are forced to wait for help, sometimes for days, while wounded. It is very, very difficult to evacuate them.
1/ A Russian soldier has spoken of his experience of mutinying with his comrades against his commander and subsequently deserting. "Don't go to fight, no matter what they promise you," he says. "There's only one thing there—death." ⬇️
2/ The man was one of the original batch of men mobilised in October 2022, which he says took place when he was given a draft order at his workplace. He was susequently sent to Ukraine to join an assault unit of the Russian Airborne Forces.
3/ The unidentified man says that his unit mutinied in 2024 after 75% of them were killed in an operation. "We didn't exactly have a storm, probably even worse than that. This is an airborne assault brigade. So, they sent us, the airborne, to be butchered."
1/ Russian political officers – responsible for maintaining the morale of the Russian army's troops – are handing out instructions to their men advising them on the best ways of committing suicide. ⬇️
2/ An understandably startled Russian soldier from the 1444th Motorised Rifle Regiment records a video to a friend or relative explaining what he's just been told in a briefing:
3/ "Are you having fun right now? The political officer, [callsign] 'Beard', gathered us all together and handed out these papers. Look."
1/ Igor 'Strelkov' Girkin isn't impressed with Russia's meatgrinder tactics and warns that the Ukrainians are becoming relatively stronger despite Russia's ongoing attacks. He warns that a full mobilisation is becoming inevitable, and wants to see change in the high command. ⬇️
2/ The jailed Girkin has sent another lengthy missive from his confines, returning to a theme he has promoted before – the wastefulness of the Russian army's tactics and the uselessness of its generals – as well as getting dangerously close to directly attacking Putin himself:
3/ "(in response to a letter dated October 13, 2025)
Dear Alexander Nikolaevich! Thank you for the information—both regarding the much-talked-about post by blogger Kartavykh and other events...."
1/ Chinese-made cars are choking and dying on fraudulently diluted Russian gasoline, which an increasing number of gas stations are selling as the country's fuel shortage worsens. ⬇️
2/ Dozens of Chinese-made Geely cars are reported to have broken down after filling up, with some owners losing control while driving, due to contaminated gasoline killing their engines. Geely Motors say that it's due to the deteriorating quality of Russian gasoline.
3/ According to Geely, the gasoline sold in Russia contains higher levels of oxidants than Chinese gasoline, which is causing the failures.