Russia has fortified the Crimean peninsula it annexed in 2014 in anticipation of a possible Ukrainian offensive to retake it, according to satellite images analyzed by Al Jazeera television.
The footage shows that between February and March, the border with Crimea and surrounding areas were transformed into a “fortified barrier ahead of an expected spring counter-offensive by Ukrainian forces”.
“In particular, an extensive network of trenches and defenses has been built and now stretches across the frontier villages of Crimea,” said the Qatar-based television network.
An analysis of satellite imagery by Al Jazeera has revealed that Russian troops are fortifying the Crimean peninsula in anticipation of a Ukrainian attempt to retake it ⤵️ https://t.co/9Zr00am9z6
– Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 9, 2023
During the same period, Russia also built and expanded several military bases in the region, according to satellite images from the US company Planet.com.
On February 24, 2022, Ukraine was again invaded by Russia and since then Moscow has declared the regions of Kherson, Zaporijia, Donetsk and Lugansk as the territory of the Russian Federation.
Kiev authorities have claimed that the end of the war that Moscow started 13 months ago means the restoration of the 1991 borders.
Experts who saw the footage admitted to Al Jazeera that the Russian barriers could make it difficult and burdensome for an offensive to recapture Crimea.
The images taken by the satellites also show that none of the trenches have been completed, which Al Jazeera says could indicate a lack of manpower.
“All [as imagens] indicate work in progress as trench networks are not linked and full communication trenches are missing,” said Zev Faintuch, security analyst at Global Guardian.
In September, the Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, and Lieutenant General Mykhailo Zabrodskyi wrote a strategy paper describing Crimea as “the center of gravity” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
They also viewed Crimea as an area that would always allow Russia to threaten Ukraine.
“Crimea was and remains the base for lines of communication on the strategic southern flank of Russian aggression.” wrote.
The two generals defended in the document that it “made sense to start from the 2023 planning of an operation or series of operations to seize the peninsula”.
They also argued that “modern weapons supplied by Ukraine’s partners” should equip the necessary military brigades for an offensive in Crimea.
At the end of January, the Western Allies decided to supply Ukraine with offensive weapons, promising 258 main battle tanks and hundreds of armored fighting vehicles.
Moscow-appointed Crimea leader Serguei Aksyonov said on Tuesday that the region was prepared for a possible Ukrainian counter-offensive.
Aksyonov said Russian forces in Crimea had built “modern and deep defences” and had “more than enough” troops and weapons to repel any Ukrainian attack.
“We should not underestimate the enemy, but we can certainly say that we are ready [para um ataque] and that there will be no catastrophe,” Aksyonov told the AP news agency.
Source: DN
