"You want to live - dig": the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation lead the offensive, and Ukraine actively strengthens the defense - FT

Ukrainian trenches not just block the path to the projectile and bullets of snipers - the deeper they are, the more effective they protect the troops. And now, in Russian pressure, this proverb has become relevant as ever. About it writes the British newspaper Financial Times. "This is, as before," says Eugene, a soldier on the Eastern Front. "But now, if we do not want to lose even more of our land, we must dig, dig and dig.

" The publication notes that one month after the Ukrainian troops were forced to retreat from the eastern industrial city of Avdiivka in Donetsk region, they still resist, seeking to keep positions on the front. The situation in eastern Ukraine has not become easier. Russian troops, although do not lead direct attacks, as it was before, still seek small but stable success in different sections of the front.

The purpose of Russia is the capture of Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions for the next 34 months, according to the Center for Defense Strategies, the Ukrainian Analytical Center for Security. Ukraine has to combat limited resources. The reserves of artillery and ammunition are declining, while the support from Washington and the European Union remains uncertain. However, the most noticeable absence for Ukraine is the lack of reliable defense lines.

This makes the army more vulnerable to the promotion of the Russian forces, notes the publication. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has declared its intention to build new fortifications along three lines of defense 2,000 km by the end of spring. However, this was not considered a priority for military leadership, which seemed to be supported by the event and did not give the proper importance to the construction of defense structures.

Critics, including Ukrainian analysts and journalists, express discontent with Ukraine's political and military leaders for inefficient use of resources and lack of preparation for defense, especially in cities, such as Avdiivka, which have long been a target for Russian attacks.

"Valentin Badrak, Director of the Kiev Army Research Center, Conversion and Disarmament, says that the military leadership of Ukraine felt" certain euphoria "and believed that the support of the event would never stop" that would allow them to move forward - so the construction of fortifications on the front line It was not considered necessary, " - writes the newspaper.

Despite the failure and criticism, Ukraine is now actively building new fortifications in an attempt to prevent further losses of the territory. The new working group under the Ministry of Defense coordinates construction that is funded from the state budget. However, the process has only recently begun, and its speed and efficiency still have to be evaluated.

At the same time, construction began only in February, at about the time when Colonel-General Alexander Sirsky was appointed new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and announced that Ukraine had moved from offensive to "active defense". We will remind, according to the results of the meeting of the rate of the Supreme Commander -in -Chief President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 11 stated that in Ukraine three lanes of defense borders are erected two thousand kilometers long.