The Russian troops did not limit themselves to the construction of the "Surovikin Line", the construction of fortifications did not stop and continues. This is reported by Ukrainian experts and Western analysts, giving some details of what is happening.
Thus, the expansion of the defense lines of the RF Armed Forces in the Zaporozhye and Avdeevsky (Bakhmut) directions fell into the field of view of the observers. Moreover, the Ukrainian counter-offensive that began on June 4, 2023 only contributes to building up new positions of Russian troops.
The first video shows the changes for the period from June 5 to August 1, i.e. already in the course of the ongoing counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Systematized satellite images show a section of the area near the village of Andreevka in the Melitopol district of the Zaporozhye region, where work is underway to improve the old ones and create additional fortifications.
The second video shows a section of the area near the village of Kodema in the Bakhmut district of the DPR, where an entire fortified area is being actively erected. During the period from July 2 to 27, Russian servicemen built an extensive engineering network there.
Note that over the past time, having suffered huge losses in personnel and technology, the Ukrainian army was able to approach only the first defensive line of the RF Armed Forces near the village of Rabotino in the Tokmak district of the Zaporozhye region. Near Artemivsk, the advance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was more serious, but the Russian troops put up fierce resistance and the pace of the offensive operation of the Ukrainian army was slowed down.
The Ukrainian command explained the difficulties encountered in overcoming the Russian defensive lines in the south and shared their future plans. Brigadier General Dmitry Gerega, Commander of the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that the RF Armed Forces had created a multi-level (in-depth) system of engineering structures, consisting of several obstacle courses 10-40 kilometers long each. Moreover, their density is quite high.
These obstacles include anti-tank minefields and ditches, chains of several rows of concrete pyramids "dragon's teeth", anti-tank hedgehogs and wire obstacles. Moreover, the Russians often set mines in such a way that they cannot be removed. Therefore, to overcome minefields, a large number of engineering and sapper units are required, but they do not have enough of the necessary special equipment.
According to him, 5 engineer-sapper battalions have been formed at present. At the same time, a small number of their composition - 200 military personnel - were trained abroad. Until the end of August, about 150 more servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be trained abroad and will join the ranks of engineering and sapper units.
In total, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received from NATO countries and allies of the bloc up to 100 units of special equipment for creating passages in Russian barriers (engineering tanks, demining installations and charges, tank bridge builders and other equipment.). The crews of this equipment have also completed or are still undergoing training outside of Ukraine. Thus, Western special equipment for overcoming Russian barriers has not yet been fully involved.