How a Key Ukrainian City Near Russia’s Border Prepares for New Assault

Kharkiv: There appear to be new trenches, concrete blocks, sandbags, and several checkpoints all across Kharkiv, which has repelled one Russian attack on Ukraine’s second city and is ready to defend against another.

In the regional capital, a pink plush toy marks the entrance to a newly dug trench.

The cut ground is still soft and dark, and the troops are soaking up the sun in their vests.

Tensions in this northeastern corner of Ukraine have subsided, but Kharkiv, which is only 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the Russian border, remains under constant danger, and a second line of defence has been organised behind the first.

“When we were here on the 24th of February there were no positions at all,” says “Doctor”, a medic with the National Guard, referring to the day the Russian invaded.

“Our warriors were laying by the road behind hills and were shooting, we had fire contacts,” he explains.

“But now when we have trenches, we have well protected zones, so for them, it would be impossibly hard to capture (this position),” adds the nurse who agreed to give a guided tour of just a few dozen metres of the site, which falls under military secrecy rules.

A automobile with the inscription “Skill to Kill” stands nearby.

A recently created trench goes directly east of Kharkiv from a house that was bombed and burned out during the initial Russian invasion.

The trench line zigzags to the south in order to limit the harm caused by a shell.

The army refuses to allow reporters to tour the defences, which double back like a maze. Bunker positions may still be visible further below, erected higher on concrete blocks.

When it rains, wooden boxes line the ground to keep people from sinking into the mud.

“Now our armed forces of Ukraine are in counter-offensive, repelling the enemy from our own territories,” Doctor says in English.

“Sometimes we could be under the shelling as well, but we are here and do not let anybody capture the city.”

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