A fortification almost 2 kilometers long was built near the Russian-occupied town of Girske in eastern Ukraine, according to new satellite images by Maxar Technologies, CNN reports.

The fortification consists of four rows of cement pyramids, which the Russians hope will stop Ukrainian vehicles and tanks from advancing east. Behind the anti-tank fortifications is a large ditch.

Additional satellite images from the European Space Agency show that the digging of the trenches took place in two parts: the first part of the trenches was dug on September 25; the second part of the trenches was dug approximately between September 30 and October 5.

Independent Meduza journalists assume that this line of defense will stretch for tens of kilometers and cover the territory between Lysiyansk and Luhansk.

Two Russian media outlets reported from a stronghold they called the “Wagner Line,” referring to Wagner’s group of Russian mercenaries.

Russian military media outlet Zvedzia TV said it was a “second line of defense” in case the Ukrainians tried to enter the area.

For the construction of the defense line, the mercenaries of the “Wagner” PMC use the Soviet trench-digging machine BTM-3.

These Soviet trench vehicles were stored in warehouses of the Russian Ministry of Defense for many years.

Why don’t they sound very useful

While the fortifications could help defend against a frontal attack, there is nothing preventing Ukrainian forces from simply bypassing the fortifications, which extend only 1.6 kilometers, or a little over a mile.

Russian tabloid RIA/FAN published a map on Wednesday claiming that Wagner’s group will continue building its “line” until it stretches east from the Russian-Ukrainian border to Kreminnaya and then south to Svitlodarsk.

CNN’s analysis of the map showed that such a long fortification would extend for about 217 kilometers.

PHOTO: Associated Press / Profimedia Images

Additional satellite images analyzed by CNN did not show any other structures along the supposed trajectory of the “Wagner Line.”

This is not the first time that Wagner’s group has used trenches to strengthen its positions. In 2021, a group of mercenaries built over 70 kilometers of trenches in the Libyan desert to stop ground attacks on their positions.

The experience of the Second World War shows that investments in the construction of such defense lines are not justified in most cases.

• Reference: PHOTO The Russian army began building “Dragon’s Teeth”, a World War II tactic