Russia preparing for Ukrainian troop landings in Crimea – intelligence
On the Ukrainian peninsula, the Russians are digging trenches and trenches, as well as setting up mine barriers (Photo:REUTERS/Murad Sezer)
Russian forces in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula are digging trenches along the Black Sea coast as defenses against the landing of Ukrainian troops, Ukraine’s HUR Military Intelligence's press office reported on Telegram on Dec. 15.
They are building other fortifications, as well, Ukrainian intelligence said.
"The occupiers in the temporarily occupied Crimea are getting ready to meet a landing of Ukrainian troops,” the HUR's press office wrote.
“Along the coast near Molochne village (Saki region) minefields and trenches have been put in place.”
Ukrainian intelligence also reported that "Dragon's teeth" – tetrahedral fortifications of reinforced concrete to impede the movement of heavy vehicles – are being put in place.
On Oct. 1, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the HUR (Main Directorate of Intelligence) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said the Ukrainian defenders will be in Crimea by the end of the coming spring.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in August that the liberation of Crimea should bring the war to an end, as it began with the occupation of the peninsula in February and March 2014.
UK broadsheet the Financial Times wrote that after the deoccupation of the western bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian artillery was now able to reach the three main supply roads from the Russian mainland to Crimea.
The roads play a crucial role in supplying the Russian invasion force in Ukraine.
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