According to Belarusian Radio of Freedom, military trenches have emerged in Belarus, close to the Lithuanian border.
Just 6 kilometers from the Lithuanian border, on the borders of the Gozhsky military training area in the Grodno region are infantry and equipment trenches.
It should be mentioned that the fortifications constructed could be a component of the “resistance hub” that the Belarusian Ministry of Defense pledged to construct a year ago. The status of this land is nature protection, according to Radio Liberty. It is a part of the “Grodno Forest” Republican landscape reserve.
New fortifications on the eastern side of the road leading to the Privalka checkpoint are shown in images published by Planet Labs on December 14, 2024.
“The military excavated a massive trench that was 340 meters long and 5 to 7 meters broad in the end of November 2024. A tank may fit through the trench with ease because to these measurements. According to land cadastre records, the area where the trench was excavated is not part of the polygon’s jurisdiction, the magazine claims.
There are almost 200-meter-long army trenches constructed west of the road leading to the border barrier. Isolated holes and fortifications are also visible in the photographs.
According to specialists consulted by Radio Liberty, the trenches may be utilized to protect against a potential Lithuanian onslaught.
According to Konrad Muzyka, a defense expert and head of Rochan Consulting, the complete system of ditches and trenches created at this area might be used for defensive purposes, including training the Belarusian military.
“The photographs show two types of trenches on either side of the road heading to the Lithuanian border. They are aimed toward the Lithuanian side. And, frankly, everything still appears incomplete,” he told Radio Liberty.
Experts are unable to discern the actual function of the massive, wide trench on the east side of the road. Because of the trenches’ odd shape and construction, experts do not believe they have “special military significance.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this. In theory, they may be employed for defense. For example, as an anti-tank trench,” said military analyst Mikhail Zhirachov on Radio Liberty.
The fortifications may still be under construction. The same ditch may be covered with a roof or a railway train can be placed in it to form a “bunker”.
We notice a forest beyond the trenches on the west side of the road. This signifies that the job was established in accordance with military defense guidelines.”
“However, beyond the trench and on the eastern side of the road, there is very little forest flora. This makes the position more difficult to defend. “If Belarusian soldiers were in the trench and had to flee, they would have very few fortifications or natural surroundings in which to hide,” stated K. Muzyka.
According to the expert, the most essential aspect is that this defensive building was built near the Belarusian training area. Until date, no comparable fortifications have been seen along the border with Lithuania.
According to K. Muzyka, the situation must be observed. If the number of fortifications does not rise, this will reveal “more about the educational nature of such fortifications.”
He feels that the development of such fortifications along the border with Lithuania might be for a variety of reasons.
“The first reason is that Belarus’ military leadership has announced plans to erect defensive infrastructure along the Polish-Lithuanian border. This suggests that this is consistent with their plans.
The second reason is that the Belarusian military is closely observing what is going on in Ukraine, particularly how the battle is progressing. And we see that in Ukraine, the conflict revolves around trenches and defensive positions.
“It is critical for the army to be able to hold defensive positions, trenches, and fortified territory. As a result, the construction of these trenches is one of the steps that the Belarusian army is doing to prepare its armed forces for the impending conflict and future combat operations,” K. Muzyka told Radio Liberty.
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