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During the early stages of the 2022 invasion, defensive positions and obstacles built by Ukrainian military engineers played a key role in halting the Russian advance toward Kyiv. Ukrainian engineers continued to improve their defensive network as the war degenerated into a war of attrition, with Russian forces using both traditional tactics and new technologies to advance their lines. This defense has further evolved in response to the Russian military’s shift from a reliance on armored vehicles and artillery to an increased reliance on drones and infantry. As a result of this changing battlefield dynamic, Ukraine now has a complex, deep defensive network that combines traditional measures with new tactics and technologies, Forbes writes . In a recent interview at the "Combat Engineering and Logistics 2026" forum, Brigadier General Vasyl Sirotenko, Chief of the Engineering Troops of the Support Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, described the current state of Ukraine’s defense system. He explained that it had evolved from a traditional multi-layered structure into a "resilient defense" created through continuous adaptation. The current system is designed not only to hold positions but also to shape the battlefield and create favorable conditions for Ukrainian forces. The backbone of the defensive system is a dense, multi-layered network of engineered obstacles designed to block any Russian advance by vehicle or foot. These include extensive strips of coiled barbed wire, anti-tank ditches, and concrete "dragon’s teeth" barriers, located deep and frequently repeated along subsequent lines. These barriers are more extensive than traditional doctrinal designs, made possible in part by battlefield innovations. For example, Ukraine has adapted the BTM-3 trench excavator to lay multiple strands of barbed wire simultaneously, allowing units to quickly create dense three-strand barriers, sometimes reaching up to 18 rows within a single barrier system. The result is a deep and highly complex defensive network. Sirotenko emphasized that, instead of serving solely to protect Ukrainian units during the assault, these obstacles have become the primary means of combat, disrupting, disorienting, and directly inflicting losses on the forces encountering them. Sirotenko also stated that the defining feature of this defensive system is the integration of unmanned and remote-controlled capabilities into engineering operations. Ukrainian forces are increasingly relying on aerial drones and ground robots to create and expand obstacle zones, particularly through remote mining. This allows engineers to lay mines both along the forward edge and deep into contested areas without exposing personnel to risk. These efforts are coordinated in real time, allowing commanders to monitor the creation of obstacles, assess their effects, and make dynamic adjustments based on battlefield conditions. Ukraine has also moved away from the large, fortified strongholds common in Soviet doctrine. Instead, the defensive network is staffed by numerous small, dispersed units in positions designed for survivability. These positions are deliberately low-visibility and equipped with defenses against drones and precision strikes, including covered, interconnected trenches and reinforced shelters. Some of these shelters are so well fortified that Russian troops had to use TM-62 anti-tank mines to breach their doors. Furthermore, the routes to and from these positions are protected by anti-drone nets, allowing for safe resupply and rotation of units. In some areas, these protective corridors extend up to 100 kilometers from the front line. Given their failures in Ukraine, it’s easy to forget that Russia still possesses one of the world’s largest armies, with a wide range of advanced weapons systems. Meanwhile, its defense industrial base has pioneered many modern military technologies, including drones, electronic warfare, and hypersonic weapons. With this extensive arsenal, Russia is capable of taking a multi-pronged approach in attempting to breach Ukraine’s defense network, journalists say. Before deploying ground forces, Russian operations typically begin with airstrikes and firepower, using a combination of large drones, glide bombs, artillery, and missiles to weaken defensive positions and create openings for follow-up forces. Ukrainian defenses integrate air defense systems and interceptor drones to limit the effectiveness of these strikes. However, some munitions, particularly glide bombs, still penetrate. However, the depth of the Ukrainian defensive system makes it difficult for these strikes to fully penetrate. At the same time, Ukrainian defenders are dispersed into small groups, reducing their vulnerability.
