Yevpatoriya in the crosshairs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine? Or why Russia is strengthening its defense on the peninsula
18 November 2024 15:58
ANALYSIS FROM 
Russian guerrillas report that Russia is actively fortifying the coast of Yevpatoriya in anticipation of a possible attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Intensive fortification of the coastline is observed in the temporarily occupied city. The Russian military is building trenches, strongholds and firing positions. This is reported by the ATES guerrilla movement.
According to ATES agents, the fortification work is ongoing, with the number of soldiers involved constantly increasing.
Russia is building fortifications not only along the coast of Yevpatoria
Military analyst Dmitry Snegirev exclusively for
The coastal defense line, according to the analyst, starts from the village of Mykolayivka in Simferopol district and stretches along the coast to Krasnoperekopsk, almost to the administrative border with Kherson region.
“Most likely, the occupants are trying to create engineering and fortification lines that should complicate possible military operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Kherson region in the direction of the occupied Crimea,” emphasized Snegiryov.
In particular, a significant concentration of these structures is observed near Cape Tarkhankut, where Russian air defense systems are located. Cape Tarkhankut has been repeatedly used as a place to launch Russian UAVs across Ukraine.
The Russians are building fortifications even on architectural monuments and taking preventive measures, fearing the advance of the Armed Forces
Snegiryov drew special attention to the fact that the Russian occupiers are not afraid to build fortifications even on architectural monuments and in protected areas of Crimea.
“In particular, near the village of Severne in the Black Sea region, coastal defense lines were built right on the ruins of an ancient settlement,” Snegiryov said.
As for the city of Yevpatoria, the expert said that the information about the installation of engineering structures at the entrance and exit of the city is indeed confirmed. According to the analyst, this may be an attempt to use historical parallels with the Yevpatorian landing, which the Soviet army landed in January 1942 to distract the Wehrmacht forces from Sevastopol and the Kerch Peninsula.
“If we talk about historical parallels, the question is what the Russian occupiers are actually trying to distract from by building engineering and fortification structures,” Snegirev said.
Dmytro Snegiryov emphasized that the events related to the Yevpatorian landing had a tragic fate, and now these structures are part of Russia’s tactics aimed at turning Crimea into a militarized zone.
“These are, in particular, measures that, according to the Russians, make it impossible for Ukrainian units to conduct large-scale landing operations to de-occupy Crimea by military means,” the analyst noted.
The expert also noted that fortification works continue not only in Yevpatoria, but also along the entire Black Sea coast of Crimea. After all, following the statements of the Ukrainian military and political leadership that the return of the occupied Crimea is considered a military priority, these works began with particular activity in February-March.
“Russia is afraid that Ukrainian troops will move from Kherson region deeper into Crimea, with further access to the administrative borders of the peninsula. That is why these engineering structures are part of their preventive measures,” summarized Snegiryov.
The Kremlin is becoming more active on the peninsula because it is afraid of the landing of the Ukrainian subversive group
Meanwhile, former SBU officer and military expert Ivan Stupak, specially for
“They clearly understand that Ukrainians have already tried to carry out landings. Some of them were successful, others not so much,” he explained.
The expert also paid special attention to how Russia is trying to secure the peninsula, knowing about its “vulnerable” areas.
“The Russians understand that Crimea is protected by water on the one hand, and you can’t just get there – either through a bridge, or through a land corridor, or through a ferry crossing. That is, everything is in plain sight.”
But, according to Stupak, the Kremlin is still wary of potential threats from the sea. The Russians assume that sabotage groups may still try to get to the peninsula. The expert notes that Russian troops are actively preparing for such threats.
“That’s why they are trying to protect themselves as much as possible – constant patrols, readiness for defense. They are doing everything to block the possibility of such attacks,” says Stupak.
As for the possibility that a Ukrainian sabotage group could land in Yevpatoriya, the military expert considers it extremely risky.
“It is difficult and dangerous. Therefore, we need to clearly understand the purpose of this. It’s not just to take a couple of photos against the backdrop of some fortifications,” says Stupak.
Thus, Russia is actively strengthening its defensive positions throughout the Crimean peninsula, particularly on the coast of Yevpatoria, which indicates the Kremlin’s fears of possible military operations by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Intensive construction of fortifications has been going on for several months now. Military analysts say that the Kremlin is trying to protect Crimea from possible sabotage groups and large-scale operations by Ukrainian forces, which could be important for future military operations in the region.
Author – Daryna Glushchenko
