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« The Donbass Line🇺🇦 » Since 2014, 2022 and more recently winter 2023, Ukraine has been building a huge defensive system. The multilayered “Donbass Line” composed of many trench network is quite similar to Russian Surovikin system. 🧵THREAD on Ukrainian in depth defenses⬇️ 1/25
When we talk of defensive trench network, the huge Surovikin line is the first thing we think about: trenches, bunkers, mines, dragon teeths… This particular system, sometimes compared to the Maginot line was one of the assets that stopped Ukrainian summer counteroffensive. 2/
Since it is already mapped by many, it is not useful to talk about it. However, I’ve also mapped pre-2022 Russian defenses. It is interesting to see that these particular trenches system can still be used in case of a Ukrainian breakthrough. 3/
Let’s talk about Ukrainian defensive lines I called “Donbass line”. Donbass line is quite different and more complex than Russian Surovikin system: it is composed of highly defended fortified system, separated by fields. Zoom in⬇️ 4/
If we take the example of Ukrainsk-Muraka line (facing south near Kourakhove), we can see on this Sentinel-2 imagery that each system is separated by a kilometer at least. Each fort can defend itself from every direction: you have to take all of them to advance. 5/
Contrary to Russian line, Ukrainian one is composed of many forts that are defending each other. The 2014-15 Popasna-Luhanske line is a good example: to breakthrough, you have to assure that no other fort has fire control on you. (This particular line was however abandoned) 6/
The line 0: This was the 2014-2022 line, it was composed of 2 systems near Marioupol (overrun in a few days because of the lack of personal), 2 lines near Popasna (Ukr retreated to the city) and one line between Marinka and Horlivka, with some part still standing. 7/
The really first line built from February to June 2022, preparing the retreat of Sievierodonetsk was built from southern Bakhmout to Siversk, passing through Soledar This defensive system had 2 lines, both were overrun in Bakhmout and Soledar but are still standing in Siversk. 8/
At the same time, Ukrainians built lines 1, 2 and 3 in northern Donbass. Today, they are still building these lines. Line one: Siverski-Donets river/Tchasiv Yar/Toretsk. 9/
Line two and three are the defenses of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk: 2 lines are protecting Sloviansk from the North, an anti tank ditcj and 1 line protecting the twin cities from the west. + 2 lines protecting Kostiantinivka/Droujkivka. 10/
Now, as some may ask themselves, the defenses after Avdiivka are already prepared but non-sufficient: main line is 17km from the city. This line is however behind a river and lakes, making it a natural barrier. 11/
The final objective of the Russian offensive may be to reach Pokrovsk, the last big city and industrial center of Ukrainian Donbass (with Kramatorsk). The Ukrainian Armed Forces have built a two layered trench system all around the city. 13/
Support lines: Donbass is a thing, but there are 3 other fronts: Kherson, South (Zaporijia) and Louhansk/Kharkiv. Apart from Mykolaiv defense network and old Russian Kherson defenses, I haven’t found any Ukrainian line in the oblast. 14/
In Zaporijia oblast, there are at least 2 main defensive lines, plus a line defending the city itself. In Louhansk frontline, we have the Lyman-Borova line quite impressive. There is also a line near Izioum. 15/
Currently, I’m investigating Ukrainian defenses on Russian border: the Koupiansk-Vovtchansk line, the Kharkiv defenses and border defenses in Sumy and Tchernihiv oblast. For now I havn’t find many things, suggesting it is just the beginning. 16/
How does those systems look like? This image is a high resolution one (from google earth pro): you can see part of the western Sloviansk defense. A Ukrainian trench is never linear, and it is not always linked to avoid loosing a whole line if one part has fallen. 17/
Ukrainians made fun of Russian anti-tank ditches and dragon teeths, but they are now using it. You can also see this new basement to protect soldiers from artillery and FPV shells. 18/
To geolocalise these trench network, I used 4 elements: -Google earth updates (from June to august 2022) -Sentinel-2 imageries, most of them until may-july 2022 (since it is the best time to see trenches) -Geolocated Videos showing trenches (Kreminna forest) -Esri Imageries 19/
Since some may ask, this work is not helping Russia. Why? -We mapped Russian positions and defenses before -Russia has satellites, and IA that can detect these lines -For most of it, it is now nearly 6-month-old -The map is indicative and non-exhaustive 20/
I’ve been mapping Ukrainian and Russian defensive lines since nearly 2 years, this is the first part of my final project, it will be updated and improved many times in a row. Here is the link to have it on your computer. Please credit me when using it! <a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1HGTwN8Nx6vsl3n8UnsmZnFhonE_ziAU&usp=sharing" color="blue">google.com/maps/d/edit?mi…</a> 21/