Ukraine Building 1,200 Miles of Fortifications: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv's military is on track to secure over 1,200 miles of defensive positioning aimed to fend off Russian troops.

Following a meeting with military leaders on Monday, Zelensky posted to his Telegram channel that Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal provided an update on the "pace of construction of new defense lines" that will cover roughly 1,242 miles across three lines of defense. According to the Ukrainian leader, fortifying Kyiv's defensive positions "is a massive task, but pace is good now."

"I count on timely completion," Zelensky added.

Ukraine is working on regrouping and replenishing its forces after Russia scored its first major battleground victory in months, forcing Kyiv's forces out of Avdiivka last month and pushing the eastern front line slightly further into Ukrainian territory. But after a few weeks of momentum, Moscow's offensive has largely slowed in the face of Kyiv's newly established defensive lines.

Shmyhal announced in January that Ukraine's government had signed off on an additional $455 million for "the construction of engineering and technical and fortification structures, appropriate equipment and a system of non-explosive barriers." The prime minister, who posted about the funding on Telegram, called it a "record amount" for fortification efforts.

The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in an intelligence update on Sunday that Ukraine "had almost certainly" expedited construction for its defensive positions, and said that measures include "anti-tank dragon's teeth and ditches, infantry trenches, minefields, and fortified defensive position."

"It is highly likely the expansion of defensive lines will reduce Russia's ability to advance or exploit tactical gains as part of its ongoing offensive operations," the British MoD added.

After several weeks of holding momentum along the front line, Moscow's military has reportedly started to slow west of Avdiivka, including near the villages of Berdychi, Orlivka and Tonenke. A spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavriisk eastern military group said on national television Friday that the conditions around Avdiivka had "stabilized and the advance has actually stopped."

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Ukraine was working to fortify its defensive positions in anticipation of a Russian offensive in the spring, citing both Western and Ukrainian officials. According to Ukrainian commander Maksym Zhorin, who spoke with the Journal, Kyiv's troops are building trenches and antitank ditches to repel Russia's attacks, although soldiers are having to build the trenches themselves even while under fire.

Ukraine's ground commander, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, has said that Kyiv is working to "stabilize" the front line and prepare for its own counteroffensive later this year.

Newsweek reached out to Ukraine's Defense Ministry via email for comment on Monday.

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