Russia's tough defenses are getting a boost from regrowing plants that hide them from Ukraine's soldiers, UK intel says
- Russia's strong defensive lines in Ukraine are getting some help thanks to regrowing weeds.
- British intelligence said the regrowth of weeds and shrubs are providing extra cover for troops.
Russia's strengthening defense lines in Ukraine have been even more beefed up, thanks to the regrowth of weeds and plants helping to hide troops from Kyiv's forces amid Moscow's war with the eastern European country, British intelligence said on Thursday.
"The predominantly arable land in the combat zone has now been left fallow for 18 months, with the return of weeds and shrubs accelerating under the warm, damp summer conditions," the UK's Ministry of Defense said in its latest daily intelligence update.
It added, "The extra cover helps camouflage Russian defensive positions and makes mine fields harder to clear."
Additionally, British intelligence said that the shrubbery and undergrowth regrowing across the battlefield in south Ukraine "is likely one factor contributing to the generally slow progress of combat in the area."
Though the undergrowth can help give cover for "small stealthy infantry assault," the UK intelligence group said, "the net effect has been to make it harder for either side to make advances."
In June, Ukraine launched its long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory in the east and south of the country. But Ukraine's attempts have been slow-moving.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said efforts had been slowed down by the strong defenses that Russia managed to achieve as it waited for Ukraine's counteroffensive to begin.
Russia's tough defenses along a 600-mile front line include mazes of extensive trenches, barbed wire, land mines, and anti-tank ditches.
Retired Australian general Mick Ryan recently described the defensive lines that Russia had built in Ukraine as "much more complex and deadly than anything experienced by any military in nearly 80 years."