Russia fortifies Crimea as it anticipates further Ukrainian breakthroughs
Russia is “fortifying” Crimea and digging trenches for miles behind the front lines in preparation for “further major Ukrainian breakthroughs”, reports suggest.
“Fortification work is being carried out on the territory of Crimea under my control with the aim of guaranteeing the security of all Crimeans,” Sergei Aksyonov, Moscow-appointed governor of the region, said on Friday.
He said this was taking place even though the military was already taking measures to protect Crimea.
His comments appear to confirm British intelligence that Moscow’s priorities are turning to defence.
The UK Ministry of Defence said on Friday morning that Russian forces are digging trenches along the Crimean border, as well as near the Siversky-Donets River between Donetsk and Luhansk.
In some places, this is happening nearly 40 miles behind the front line, suggesting Russia is preparing for significant Ukrainian breakthroughs.
“Russian forces continue to prioritise refitting, reorganisation and the preparation of defences across most sectors in Ukraine,” following the withdrawal from Kherson city a week ago, the ministry said in its daily intelligence update.
“Some of these locations are up to 60km behind the current front line, suggesting that Russian planners are making preparations in case of further major Ukrainian breakthroughs,” it added.
Ukraine has been pushing a successful counteroffensive in recent weeks that has seen it recapture more than half of the land it lost to Russia during the war. Last week, it reclaimed Kherson, capital of the Ukrainian region that borders Crimea.
It says it intends to keep fighting until it has recaptured all of its territory, including Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.
Although the peninsula’s northern border is still some 50 or 60 miles away from the front line, there have been several successful attacks on Russian military installations and infrastructure in Crimea, including an explosion at the Kerch bridge that connects it to Russia in October.
Last week, satellite images appeared to show new trenches being dug near Crimea’s northern border, suggesting Moscow is nervous that Ukrainian forces could reach the peninsula.
