In Crimea, the Russian army is building numerous fortifications from the administrative border with Ukraine to Dzhankoy. Thus, the occupiers are actively preparing for defence against the Ukrainian counter-offensive.

New images from Planet Labs of the occupied peninsula were posted by journalists of the Crimea Realities and Schemes projects. Reportedly, most of the trenches in the north of Crimea built by the Russian army appeared after its retreat from Kherson.

These images show that the Russian military often builds fortifications near villages or even in the settlements themselves, presumably to use the local population as human shields in the event of a Ukrainian counter-offensive. According to Yevhen Leshan, an officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and an investigative journalist from Crimea, such actions are standard practice for the occupying army.

"The Russians have never treated human life as a value, especially the lives of Crimeans, whom they have always held hostage. Therefore, yes, these people are in danger, the population of these villages is in danger. After all, if there are hostilities, the Russians will actually use them as a shield," the journalist said.

The published images were taken from four different locations, showing new trenches. These structures are located near the village of Filativka, the administrative border crossing point of Armyansk, the city of Krasnoperekopsk and in the Dzhankoy district. Comparing these images with previous photographs, it is possible to see the changes that have taken place in these areas.

Earlier, Gumenyuk explained why the occupiers are actively digging trenches in the occupied Crimea. The creation of defence lines in the coastal zones may also mean that the occupiers, together with the gauleiters, want to launder money in the end.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the OK "South" called on Crimeans to prepare for a "hot" summer, not a holiday season. They added that the occupiers are also aware of the inevitability of the battle for Crimea, so they are preparing for the so-called defence.

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