Thread by @clement_molin

Defensive fortifications sighted all over #Ukraine 🇺🇦

Building defenses is nothing new in Ukraine, the first ones were built in 2014 along the Donbass frontline.
However, since a few months, a nationwide program has been set up to protect Ukraine.

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It is known that each oblast (or region) got allocated a budget to pay companies which will dig trenches and build bunkers.

Everything began in late january.

There are a few directions with priority: Zaporizhia, Odessa, Kherson, Donetsk or Kharkiv.

Before 2024, there were already defensive lines. For example, one was lying in front of Mykolaiv, one was south of Pokrovsk, one east of Kramatorsk...

These lines were mainly composed of some trench networks hundreds meters from each other.

In some part of the front, no defenses were built. This is exactly the case of Avdiivka. In fact, the city itself was defended with its old 2014/2015 bunkers.

However, the northern flank was not dug in, and the Russian managed to bypass the city and encircle it.

When Syrski was nominated, he ordered a nationwide program, even if Zalujny already begun before to build defenses.

3 months after, we can see a few interesting things.

First of all, and before I begin, I recommend you to follow the account of my Think Tank with other guys, @atummundi.

You can also support this mapping work here to help us buying things to shoot some YT videos ! buymeacoffee.com/clement.molin

Begginning with Odessa.

This region is really important for Ukraine defenses since it is their only access to the sea.

They have to defend at least 3 directions :
-Black sea
-The corridor from Mykolaiv
-The border with Transnistria

For now, i have mapped some defenses east and north of the city but also on the seafront.

As you can see, there are some defenses positions west of the city itself, defending the border with Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist state.

I think it is clearly impossible for Russia to reach Odessa. Why ? Because most of their landing ships are out of use and the Dnipro river is a good natural obstacle.
However, they are still building defenses :

Between Kherson and Mykolaiv, I mapped 3 lines.

The old one in front of the city of Mykolaiv, a new one, which is huge, going from the sea to Krivi Rih, and some trenches on the right bank of the river.

On Zaporizhia direction, multiple defenses are being built. Some are including bunkers and firing positions.

On the direction of Orikhiv, the Ukrainian are using old Russian defenses, + Zaporizhia line of defense and a new line stretching from Zaporijia to Donetsk.

This defensive line is huge, with anti-tank ditches, trenches, dragon teeths and sometimes bunkers. This was built between 20th February and today.

This line is mainly following the terrain, rivers and lakes. Part of it is present in Dnipropetrovsk oblast and finishing itself near the Mokri Yali river in southern Donetsk oblast.

Kourakhove is now a well defended city, while the approch to Pokrovsk, north of it, is defended by two main lines.
Fortification work is still underway in the region.

North of it, the defenses west of Avdiivka are being improved, while a line seems to be building east of Pokrovsk with the first scares of anti-tank ditches.

To see Kramatorsk defenses, you need to look east.

Make sure to click to see everything.

Here is Lyman being reinforced these days : the Russians are still trying to reach the Zherebets river near Terny but are failling for now.

Here is the city of Borova from Sentinel-2: you can see Ukrainian defenses on each red dot.
It is most of the time difficult to locate them and to be 100% sure it is one defensive position.

It is the first time I present a map of Ukrainian fortifications ongoing on the Russian border.

As you can see on the map, it is only the beggining, however, it will soon be improved to maintain a defense on Russian and Belarussian axis.

Here is an example south of Vovtchansk in Kharkiv oblast.

Soumy, Tchernihiv region, Kyiv city (fortifications from 2022) and Rivne oblast on the Belarussian border.

You have to understand this work takes hours to find, map and draw fortifications.

Just an example of my encouter on Tchernihiv direction, most of the time their are clouds, the luminosity is not always the same and it is a really tough job.

Here you will find high resolution images of these fortifications.
Click to zoom in !

Now it is time to follow my account, but also @atummundi

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