A web of trenches shows Russia fears losing Crimea

With Ukrainian leaders vowing to retake all of their territory occupied by Russia, Moscow has readied elaborate defenses, especially in Crimea, the peninsula it annexed illegally in 2014, which is now one of the most fortified in the war zone.

After weeks of digging, the area around the small town of Medvedivka, near a crossing to mainland Ukraine, is webbed with an elaborate trench system stretching several miles. The passages are cut into the earth at angles to give soldiers a broader range of fire. Nearby are other fortifications, including deep ditches designed to trap tanks and heavy vehicles.

Satellite images provided to The Washington Post by Maxar, a commercial space technology company, show that Russia has built dozens of similar defenses.

“The Russian military, apparently, understands that Crimea will have to be defended in the near future,” said Ian Matveev, a Russian military analyst.

Medvedivka, Feb. 11

Trenches

500 FT

Detail

MEDVEDIVKA

3,000 feet

of trenches

To mainland

Ukraine

HIGHWAY M18

To Dzhankoy

Trenches

Piles of

dragon’s

teeth

Vehicle

placing the

obstacles

Three rows of

dragon’s teeth

Likely piles

of materials

Trenches

Linear trenches

Wood used

to reinforce

trenches

Fighting

vehicles

Military

depot

Medvedivka, Feb. 11

Trenches

500 FT

Detail

MEDVEDIVKA

3,000 feet

of trenches

To mainland

Ukraine

HIGHWAY M18

To Dzhankoy

Trenches

Piles of

dragon’s

teeth

Vehicle

placing the

obstacles

Three rows of

dragon’s teeth

Likely piles

of materials

Trenches

Linear trenches

Wood used

to reinforce

trenches

Armoured

fighting

vehicles

Military

depot

Medvedivka, Feb. 11

Trenches

N

Detail

1,000 FEET

MEDVEDIVKA

Trenches spanning

more than 3,000 feet

To mainland

Ukraine

HIGHWAY M18

To Dzhankoy

Trenches

Trenches

Piles of

dragon’s

teeth

Vehicle

placing the

obstacles

Three rows of

dragon’s teeth

Likely piles

of materials

Trenches

Armoured

fighting vehicles

Linear trenches

Wood used

to reinforce

trenches

Towed

artillery

guns

Military depot

Medvedivka, Feb. 11

N

Trenches

Detail

1,000 FEET

SYVASH

LAKE

MEDVEDIVKA

Trenches spanning

more than 3,000 feet

To mainland

Ukraine

HIGHWAY M18

To Dzhankoy

Trenches

Trenches

Piles of

dragon’s

teeth

Vehicle

placing the

obstacles

Three rows of

dragon’s teeth

Likely piles

of materials

Trenches

Armoured

fighting vehicles

Linear trenches

Wood used

to reinforce

trenches

Tanks

Towed

artillery

guns

Military depot

Self-propelled

artillery

Medvedivka, Feb. 11

N

Trenches

Detail

1,000 FEET

SYVASH

LAKE

MEDVEDIVKA

Trenches spanning

more than 3,000 feet

To mainland

Ukraine

HIGHWAY M18

To Dzhankoy

Trenches

Trenches

Piles of

dragon’s

teeth

Vehicle

placing the

obstacles

Three rows of

dragon’s teeth

Likely piles

of materials

Trenches

Armoured

fighting vehicles

Linear trenches

Wood used

to reinforce

trenches

Tanks

Towed

artillery

guns

Towed

artillery guns

Military depot

Tank

company

Self-propelled

artillery

Medvedivka, Feb. 11

Trenches

N

Detail

1,000 FEET

MEDVEDIVKA

SYVASH

LAKE

Trenches spanning

more than 3,000 feet

To mainland

Ukraine

HIGHWAY M18

To Dzhankoy

Trenches

Trenches

Piles of

dragon’s

teeth

Vehicle

placing the

obstacles

Three rows of

dragon’s teeth

Likely piles

of materials

Trenches

Armoured

fighting vehicles

Linear trenches

Wood used

to reinforce

trenches

Trenches

Tanks

Towed

artillery

guns

Towed

artillery guns

Military depot

Self-propelled

artillery

Tank

company

Medvedivka, Feb. 11

Trenches

Detail

N

1,000 FEET

SYVASH

LAKE

MEDVEDIVKA

Trenches spanning

more than 3,000 feet

To mainland

Ukraine

HIGHWAY M18

To Dzhankoy

Trenches

Trenches

Piles of

dragon’s

teeth

Vehicle

placing the

obstacles

Three rows of

dragon’s teeth

Likely piles

of materials

Trenches

Armoured

fighting vehicles

Linear trenches

Wood used

to reinforce

trenches

Tanks

Towed

artillery

guns

Towed

artillery guns

Military depot

Tank

company

Self-propelled

artillery

The defenses have sprung up fast, ahead of an expected spring offensive by Ukraine. In just a few weeks, Russia built miles of fortifications near Vitino, a town on Crimea’s western coast — even though analysts say an amphibious assault is unlikely.

The BTM-3, a Soviet-era trenching machine, digs as fast as half a mile per hour, even when the ground is frozen. The U.S. Army once marveled at these machines, writing in an internal 1980 report that nothing comparable existed in the United States, Europe or Japan.

BTM-3 trenching machine

This trench-digging machine has a rotor with buckets at the rear. The rotor is lowered behind the vehicle to dig the trenches.

23 FT

The rotor unloads the soil next to the trench, creating front and rear parapets that are about 1.5 feet tall and provide additional protection.

Parapets

Up to

5 ft

The BTM-3 digs straight, zigzag or curved trenches. It can dig 3½-foot-deep basic trenches or 5-foot-deep full-size trenches. In both cases the width at the bottom of the trench is about 2 feet.

Dragon’s teeth

Pyramidal antitank bollards.

About

4 feet tall

BTM-3 trenching machine

This trench-digging machine has a rotor with buckets at the rear. The rotor is lowered behind the vehicle to dig the trenches.

23 FT

The rotor unloads the soil next to the trench, creating front and rear parapets that are about 1.5 feet tall and provide additional protection.

Parapets

Up to 5 ft

The BTM-3 digs straight, zigzag or curved trenches. It can dig 3½-foot-deep basic trenches or 5-foot-deep full-size trenches. In both cases the width at the bottom of the trench is about 2 feet.

Dragon’s teeth

Pyramidal antitank bollards.

About

4 feet tall

BTM-3 trenching machine

This trench-digging machine has a rotor with buckets at the rear. The rotor is lowered behind the vehicle to dig the trenches.

23 FEET

The rotor unloads the soil next to the trench, creating front and rear parapets that are about 1.5 feet tall and provide additional protection.

The BTM-3 digs straight, zigzag or curved trenches. It can dig 3½-foot-deep basic trenches or 5-foot-deep full-size trenches. In both cases the width at the bottom of the trench is about 2 feet.

Up to 5 ft

Dragon’s teeth

Pyramidal antitank bollards.

About

4 feet tall

BTM-3 trenching machine

This trench-digging machine has a rotor with buckets at the rear. The rotor is lowered behind the vehicle to dig the trenches.

23 FEET

The rotor unloads the soil next to the trench, creating front and rear parapets that are about 1.5 feet tall and provide additional protection.

The BTM-3 digs straight, zigzag or curved trenches. It can dig 3½-foot-deep basic trenches or 5-foot-deep full-size trenches. In both cases the width at the bottom of the trench is about 2 feet.

Up to 5 feet

Dragon’s teeth

Pyramidal antitank bollards.

About

4 feet tall

Russia also uses raw manpower. Online Russian job listings have sought construction workers to fit trenches in Crimea with wood and concrete, for pay of more than $90 a day — enviable wages.

Satellite imagery shows that some obstacles in Crimea were built in a matter of days.

CRIMEA

Detail

Vitino

Feb. 27

50 FT

March 12

Detail

CRIMEA

Medvedivka

Jan. 3

400 FT

Feb. 11

CRIMEA

Detail

Vitino

Feb. 27

50 FT

March 12

Detail

CRIMEA

Medvedivka

Jan. 3

400 FT

Feb. 11

CRIMEA

Detail

Vitino

Feb. 27

March 12

50 FEET

Detail

CRIMEA

Medvedivka

Jan. 3

Feb. 11

400 FEET

CRIMEA

Detail

Vitino

Feb. 27

March 12

50 FEET

Detail

CRIMEA

Medvedivka

Jan. 3

Feb. 11

400 FEET

The future of Crimea is a fraught subject. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to return it to his country’s control, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed never to give it up.

The region’s geography presents major difficulties for both Ukraine and Russia. Crimea is connected to mainland Ukraine by a narrow, swampy passage of land that could stall an offensive. But its proximity to the front could also prove dangerous for Russia’s occupation, isolating its forces and putting them in easy reach of Ukrainian weapons.

Though Russia has built defenses elsewhere, the scale in Crimea stands out. “For Putin, Crimea is just a sacred cow,” Matveev said. “If something happens, troops will be immediately sent to this line of defense.”

Satellite imagery reveals that many of Russia’s defenses were built along bodies of water, adding an extra obstacle against a potential Ukrainian ground offensive.

Fortifications across Crimea

Armiansk, Feb. 16

Detail

Piles of

dragon’s teeth

CRIMEA

CANAL

Trenches

1,000 FT

Maslove, Jan. 3

Pile of

dragon’s

teeth

Dragon’s teeth

CANAL

300 FT

Trenches

Novoivanivka, Jan. 3

Dragon’s

teeth

NORTH CRIMEAN CANAL

300 FT

Trenches

Fortifications across Crimea

Armiansk, Feb. 16

Piles of

dragon’s teeth

Detail

CRIMEA

CANAL

Trenches

1,000 FT

Maslove, Jan. 3

Pile of

dragon’s

teeth

Dragon’s teeth

CANAL

300 FT

Trenches

Novoivanivka, Jan. 3

Dragon’s

teeth

NORTH CRIMEAN CANAL

300 FT

Trenches

Fortifications across Crimea

Armiansk, Feb. 16

Pile of

dragon’s teeth

Detail

CRIMEA

CANAL

Trenches

1,000 FEET

Maslove, Jan. 3

Pile of

dragon’s

teeth

Dragon’s teeth

CANAL

300 FEET

Trenches

Novoivanivka, Jan. 3

Dragon’s

teeth

NORTH CRIMEAN CANAL

300 FEET

Trenches

Fortifications across Crimea

Armiansk, Feb. 16

Piles of

dragon’s teeth

Detail

CRIMEA

CANAL

Trenches

1,000 FEET

Maslove, Jan. 3

Pile of

dragon’s

teeth

Dragon’s teeth

CANAL

300 FEET

Trenches

Novoivanivka, Jan. 3

300 FEET

Dragon’s

teeth

NORTH CRIMEAN CANAL

Trenches

Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, a government-financed research institute in Kyiv, said the extent of fortifications was the “best indication” of Russia’s fears.

But some Western officials worry that a direct fight over Crimea could lead to a dangerous escalation. Senior Russian officials, including former president Dmitry Medvedev, have implied that Moscow would use nuclear weapons to defend Crimea.

Trenches, tank traps and dragon’s teeth

Crimea has been fought over for centuries because of its strategic location. For Russia, it provides a year-round base for its Black Sea Fleet. Its beaches also make it a popular vacation destination, although the war has intruded.

During the Crimean War in the 1850s, Russia fought an alliance of European powers. Historians describe that conflict, which made widespread use of trench warfare, as a precursor to World War I. It also proved that Crimea, once considered a natural fortress, was vulnerable to modern seaborne attacks.

But Ukraine’s navy is weak. It also lacks the air power to dominate the peninsula from above. A traditional ground assault would have to come via a far more difficult path.

Obstacles have been placed along key roads that connect Crimea to mainland Ukraine.

Fortifications

Melitopol

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

Sea

of Azov

20 MI

Dzhankoy

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUS.

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Fortifications

Melitopol

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

area

KHERSON

OBLAST

Sea

of Azov

20 MI

Dzhankoy

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUS.

Simferopol

Sevastopol

Black

Sea

Yalta

ZAPORIZH.

OBLAST

Melitopol

Berdyansk

Mykolaiv

Kherson

UKRAINE

Fortifications

Russian-held

area

KHERSON OBLAST

Syvash

Sea

of Azov

Karkinit

Bay

Dzhankoy

20 MILES

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUSSIA

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

Yevpatoriya

Simferopol

Black

Sea

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Yalta

ZAPORIZH.

OBLAST

Mykolaiv

Melitopol

Berdyansk

Kherson

UKRAINE

Fortifications

Dnieper

Estuary

Russian-held

area

KHERSON OBLAST

Syvash

Sea

of Azov

Karkinit

Bay

Dzhankoy

20 MILES

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUSSIA

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

Yevpatoriya

Simferopol

Black

Sea

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Yalta

Melitopol

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

Sea

of Azov

20 MI

Fortifications

Dzhankoy

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUS.

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Melitopol

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

area

Sea

of Azov

20 MI

Fortifications

Dzhankoy

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUS.

Simferopol

Sevastopol

Black

Sea

Yalta

ZAPORIZH.

OBLAST

Melitopol

Berdyansk

Mykolaiv

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

area

KHERSON OBLAST

Syvash

Sea

of Azov

Isthmus

of Perekop

Fortifications

Dzhankoy

20 MILES

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUSSIA

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

Yevpatoriya

Simferopol

Black

Sea

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Yalta

ZAPORIZH.

OBLAST

Mykolaiv

Melitopol

Berdyansk

Kherson

UKRAINE

Dnieper

Estuary

Russian-held

area

KHERSON OBLAST

Syvash

Isthmus

of Perekop

Sea

of Azov

Karkinit

Bay

Fortifications

Dzhankoy

20 MILES

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUSSIA

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

Yevpatoriya

Simferopol

Black

Sea

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Yalta

Melitopol

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

Sea

of Azov

M18

M17

20 MI

Arabat Spit

Dzhankoy

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUS.

Nearly

20 miles

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Melitopol

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

area

KHERSON

OBLAST

Sea

of Azov

M18

M17

20 MI

Arabat Spit

Dzhankoy

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUS.

Nearly

20 miles

Simferopol

Sevastopol

Black

Sea

Yalta

ZAPORIZH.

OBLAST

Melitopol

Berdyansk

Mykolaiv

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

area

KHERSON OBLAST

M18

Syvash

M17

Sea

of Azov

Karkinit

Bay

Arabat Spit

Dzhankoy

20 MILES

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUSSIA

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

Yevpatoriya

Nearly

20 miles

Simferopol

Black

Sea

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Yalta

ZAPORIZH.

OBLAST

Mykolaiv

Melitopol

Berdyansk

Kherson

UKRAINE

Dnieper

Estuary

Russian-held

area

KHERSON OBLAST

M18

M17

Syvash

Sea

of Azov

Karkinit

Bay

Arabat Spit

Dzhankoy

20 MILES

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUSSIA

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

Yevpatoriya

Nearly

20 miles

Simferopol

Black

Sea

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Yalta

For months, Russian forces have been building fortifications along key points of access in the Kherson region. They have also built fortifications near Melitopol, across what is known as the “land bridge” connecting Crimea to Russia through occupied Ukrainian territory.

More recently, Russia has heavily fortified its defenses on the peninsula, which is connected to the Ukrainian mainland by the Isthmus of Perekop, a narrow strip of land measuring 4.3 miles at its widest.

Geography may be Crimea’s best defense. Only two major roads lead onto the peninsula from the north. The M17 in the west is now heavily fortified, and the M18 in the east crosses a bridge that could be demolished. The Syvash lagoons, also known as the Putrid Sea, limit large-scale military movements, and the Arabat Spit to the east has mostly unpaved roads.

Russia has also built trenches along 20 miles of coastline in western Crimea, near Vitino. Satellite imagery from on March 31 shows that towed artillery has been added in the same area. Some analysts said the weapons’ deployment far from the active battlefield was perplexing.

Near Vitino, March 12

Detail

Dragon’s

teeth

Trenches

Sand berm

200 FT

BLACK SEA

March 31

Towed

artillery

50 FT

BLACK

SEA

Near Vitino, March 12

Detail

Dragon’s

teeth

Trenches

Pile of

dragon’s

teeth

Sand berm

200 FT

BLACK SEA

March 31

Towed

artillery

BLACK

SEA

50 FT

Near Vitino, March 12

Detail

Dragon’s

teeth

200 FEET

Trenches

Pile of

dragon’s

teeth

Sand berm

BLACK SEA

March 31

Towed artillery

100 FEET

BLACK SEA

Near Vitino, March 12

Detail

Dragon’s

teeth

Trenches

200 FEET

Pile of

dragon’s

teeth

Sand

berm

BLACK SEA

March 31

Towed artillery

100 FEET

BLACK SEA

The battle for Crimea

It would require considerable time, effort and equipment to breach Crimea’s northern fortifications head-on, according to Steve Danner, a former U.S. Army engineer who served in the Persian Gulf War, the Iraq War and Afghanistan.

“The Russians do a very good job at preparing defensive positions,” Danner wrote in a message, comparing the fortifications around Crimea now to those used by the Soviet Union around Kursk in World War II — a battle that proved decisive in repelling Nazi troops.

Michael Kofman, a military analyst at CNA in Virginia, said that Ukraine is unlikely to seize Crimea in “the classical sense,” but that Kyiv could pursue a strategy of exhaustion by establishing fire control over access to Crimea.

“Over time it could make the situation in Crimea untenable, such that Russia might have to negotiate over its status,” Kofman said.

Ukraine is already testing this strategy. Since August, more than 70 suspected attacks by Ukrainian forces or their collaborators have targeted Russian sites in or near Crimea, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

Many have been airstrikes, including attacks by drones. Some appear to have been the work of saboteurs. Though Russia intercepted some strikes, others succeeded — at times with devastating results.

Air, drone, artillery or explosive

attacks on Crimea

Successful

Intercepted

UKRAINE

Russian-held

area

Sea

of Azov

CRIMEA

RUS.

20 MI

Black

Sea

Oct. 8

Crimean

bridge

MARCH

2022

MAY

JULY

SEPT.

NOV.

JAN.

2023

MARCH

Events within 5 miles of each other are grouped

together. Each event may include multiple

individual strikes. Artillery includes shelling and

missile attacks. Some events may not be included

because of data availability. Data as of March 21.

Air, drone, artillery or explosive attacks on Crimea

Successful

Intercepted

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

area

Sea

of Azov

Karkinit

Bay

Dzhankoy

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUS.

20 MI

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Oct. 8

Crimean

bridge

MARCH

2022

MAY

JULY

SEPT.

NOV.

JAN.

2023

MARCH

Events within 5 miles of each other are grouped together.

Each event may include multiple individual strikes.

Artillery includes shelling and missile attacks. Some events

may not be included because of data availability.

Data as of March 21.

Air, drone, artillery or explosive attacks on Crimea

Successful

Intercepted

Kherson

UKRAINE

Russian-held

area

Sea

of Azov

Karkinit

Bay

Dzhankoy

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUS.

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

20 MILES

Black

Sea

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Yalta

Oct. 8

Crimean

bridge

MARCH

2022

MAY

JULY

SEPT.

NOV.

JAN.

2023

MARCH

Events within 5 miles of each other are grouped together. Each event may include multiple

individual strikes. Artillery includes shelling and missile attacks. Some events may not

be included because of data availability. Data as of March 21.

Air, drone, artillery or explosive attacks on Crimea

Successful

Intercepted

Kherson

Dnieper

Estuary

UKRAINE

Russian-held

area

Syvash

Sea

of Azov

Karkinit

Bay

Dzhankoy

Kerch

CRIMEA

RUSSIA

Annexed by

Russia in 2014

Yevpatoriya

20 MILES

Simferopol

Black

Sea

Black

Sea

Sevastopol

Yalta

Oct. 8

Crimean

bridge

MARCH

2022

APR.

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUG.

SEPT.

OCT.

NOV.

DEC.

JAN.

2023

FEB.

MARCH

Events within 5 miles of each other are grouped together. Each event may include multiple individual strikes. Artillery includes

shelling and missile attacks. Some events may not be included because of data availability. Data as of March 21.

In August, at least six explosions rocked Saki air base near Crimea’s western coast. Officials later said that Ukrainian special forces had carried out the attack, which damaged or destroyed at least eight military aircraft.

Strikes have also targeted Dzhankoy, a town in northern Crimea that is an important logistical hub for Russian forces in southern Ukraine. Explosions rocked the city on March 20. They were later linked to a drone attack targeting Russian cruise missiles that were being transported by rail.

Perhaps the most spectacular attack took place on Oct. 8, when the Crimean Bridge over the Kerch Strait was damaged by an explosion. The 12-mile bridge was constructed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and provides road and rail links to Russia.

The future

Ben Hodges, a former commander of U.S. Army Europe and now an adviser with Human Rights First, said that unless Ukraine retakes Crimea, its economy will remain vulnerable. Russia could use Crimea’s ports to block Ukrainian trade, for example, or as a staging ground for future conflict.

“Ukraine will never be safe or secure or able to rebuild its economy so long as Russia occupies Crimea, because it blocks access to the Azov Sea and because the Black Sea Fleet is able to dominate the Black Sea coastline and ports of Ukraine,” Hodges said.

Hodges called on the United States to supply longer-range missiles to help force Russia out, including the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which can hit targets up to 186 miles away, potentially putting all of Crimea in range.

The fortifications in Crimea mean that Russia would be prepared for a long fight. Speaking to Russian state media last month, Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of Crimea, said work on Crimea’s “defensive line” was on schedule.

“I stand by the position: If you want peace, prepare for war,” Aksyonov said.