Russians build defence lines near Crimea and in its north - Intelligence

Russia is actively preparing to defend the occupied Crimean peninsula; they are creating strategic areas in the north of Dzhankoi district. 

Source: Andrii Cherniak, representative of the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, in a conversation with Ukrinform

Quote: "We see that they are actively preparing for defence. Creating a defence line both on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast and at the administrative border with Crimea, in the north of the peninsula. They are building two strategic areas in the northern part of Dzhankoi district. It is crucial for them, as in case of a counteroffensive of the Ukrainian forces, the north of Crimea will become an impact zone for the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

Details: However, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine does not detect evacuation of the invaders from the northern part of Crimea yet, Cherniak noted.

Speaking of evacuation of the Russians and collaborators from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, the intelligence representative has highlighted that most of them are trying to get to Russia, not Crimea. 

"Even they understand that Russia will lose Crimea one way or another, and it will be returned to Ukraine," Cherniak explained.

He has also added that the invaders are trying to keep vessels of the Black Sea Fleet and military equipment under the constant cover of air defence systems in Crimea. 

"They hope it will save them from smoking in prohibited places [this refers to a phrase that went viral because the official reason given for explosions at Russian facilities is their bad habit of smoking in the wrong place – ed.] and failing to comply with safety rules," Cherniak stated.

Background:

• On 11 November, Ukrainian defenders entered Kherson, which had been occupied since March.
• Retired Major General Volodymyr Havrylov, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense, has recently claimed that Ukrainian forces could be back in Crimea by the end of December 2022, and the entire war with Russia will be over by the spring 2023.
• Major General Ben Hodges, a former commander of US Army Europe, has predicted that Ukraine can liberate Mariupol and Melitopol by January 2023, and after that the liberation of Crimea will begin. In his opinion, Ukraine can liberate Crimea by the summer of 2023.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that the first thing he plans to do after Ukraine's victory over Russia is to visit liberated Crimea, and he expects that it will be in the summer.

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