Satellite imagery reveals Putin’s desperate dragon’s tooth defenses like Hitler’s Atlantic Wall before the Ukraine offensive
Satellite images have revealed Vladimir Putin’s desperate dragon’s tooth defense as he prepares for a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
The archaic fortifications, which resemble Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, have been captured by the Maxar secret service while Kiev prepares its troops to retake its lands.
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Pictures showed a beach strewn with concrete blocks, areas with excavated defense lines and main roads lined with anti-tank ditches.
Up close, dragon’s teeth could be seen – pyramid-shaped anti-tank obstacles designed to impede the movement of war machines.
They were first used during World War II, most notably by the Nazis when they tried to barricade the north coast of Europe with Hitler’s Atlantic Wall.
But after years of work, and at a cost today equivalent to $200 billion, the fortifications were breached in one morning in 1944.
Still, a BBC investigation revealed important images suggesting that Russia was using similar tools in the run-up to a significant push by Ukraine.
According to the report, construction of most of the fortifications started in October 2022.
A satellite image dated March 12, 2023 showed Crimea’s 15-mile western coast dotted with dragon’s teeth.
A series of trenches dug by Russian troops and several bunkers could be seen behind them.
Another bird’s-eye view of the southern city of Tokmak showed that mass excavations had taken place in the strategic area.
The city lies on an important route that Ukrainian forces could use to cut off Crimea from other Russian-controlled areas.
Another close-up photo appeared to show an anti-tank ditch in the same area.
It was reported that it was possible to hide mines in these defenses.
One image showed a series of anti-tank ditches and trenches running along a 22-mile highway west of Tokmak.
The main road is reportedly of strategic importance, connecting Russian-held Melitopol to Kharkiv.
If Ukrainian troops use this road, they could be attacked by heavy Russian artillery behind the defenses, an expert said.
Finally, circular ditches could also be seen near Mariupol.
According to senior military experts, the group of images show Ukrainian troops ready to use their shiny new Western weaponry.
Brave soldiers have held the line against Putin’s twisted invasion, enduring months of some of the war’s bloodiest fighting in brutal, tight, trench warfare-style positions.
But the Ukrainian leadership has made it clear that they see these exhausting battles as a price worth paying as they prepare for their counteroffensive.
Behind the front lines, a new wave of troops are training with Western weapons to protect their homeland.
General Hodges told The Sun Online he believes Ukraine will make a big effort and focus its efforts on finally retaking Crimea, which has been in Russian hands since 2014.
He told The Sun Online: “Ukraine could kill any Russian soldier within 200 miles of Bakhmut and it wouldn’t change the strategic situation.”
“The key is to win Crimea – that will be the crucial terrain. Once Crimea is liberated, it will all be over, it will change everything.”
“Ukraine knows that without retaking Crimea, it will never be safe.”
With extensive military experience, Hodges believes the offensive will focus on isolating the annexed Crimea peninsula by separating the land bridge from partially Russian-controlled areas of southern Ukraine.
“The goal is to breach this land bridge and hit targets with more accurate weapons and make the peninsula untenable for Russian forces,” he said.
He anticipates that this attack will include strikes on Russian air bases, ambitious strikes on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, and targeted attacks on logistics and command centers deep in enemy territory in Crimea.
“If it makes sense,” Hodges said, they could “blow up again” the Crimean Bridge — Putin’s favorite bridge that was attacked last October.
Ukrainian commanders are believed to have blown up the £3.2 billion Kerch Bridge – an iconic link between Vlad’s mainland and annexed Crimea.
General Hodges claims that the offensive will be concentrated in a narrow area to break through the well-entrenched Russian lines.
“I think Ukraine will pick one or two locations where they will concentrate their attack on a narrow front a few miles wide and push through the fortified front lines with tanks, mechanized infantry, engineers and artillery.”
He continued, “They will use their air force to cover them and there will be special forces and partisan activity in the Russian rear to prevent them from responding.” [to the attack].”
When could it happen? “It would never be a spring offensive,” he explained.
“They’ve been busy training, practicing and carefully protecting information — waiting for the right conditions for marketability — waiting on the ground to be able to sustain the attack,” he speculated.
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