<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">A beach resort bristling with fortifications. A major road lined with anti-tank ditches. Satellite analysis by BBC Verify has uncovered some of the extensive defences built by Russia as it prepares for a major Ukrainian counter-attack.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After months of stalemate, the expected assault is likely to be a crucial test for Ukraine as it seeks to prove it can achieve significant battlefield gains with the weapons it has received from the West.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By examining hundreds of satellite images, the BBC has identified some key points in the significant build-up of trenches and other fortifications in southern Ukraine since October.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">These four locations offer an insight into what Russia expects from the counter-offensive, and what defences Ukrainian forces might encounter.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1. Crimea's west coast</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seized by Russia in 2014, Crimea was formerly known for its beach resorts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, instead of sun loungers and parasols, the coastline stretching for 15 miles (25km) is littered with defence structures installed by Russian troops.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The image below shows the only open sandy beach on the west coast without natural defences such as cliffs or hills.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Firstly, there are "dragon's teeth" along the shore: pyramid-shaped blocks of concrete, designed to block the path of tanks and other military vehicles.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Behind them is a line of trenches, providing cover from incoming attacks. Several bunkers can also be spotted along the trenches.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stacks of wood, digging machines and stores of dragon's teeth along the coast suggest building work was still in progress when the image was taken in March.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some military experts suggest the defences are likely to be a precaution, rather than a sign that Russia expects to defend a seaborne assault, since Ukraine has little naval capacity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Intelligence analyst Layla Guest says: "The fortifications are likely in place to deter any bold Ukrainian operation to attack Crimea via the sea rather than on land."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The beach fortification is just one example of a vast network of trenches, as shown by the black dots in the map below, based on work by open-source analyst Brady Africk.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">BBC Verify has been able to identify other key fortification sites by pinpointing individual trench locations from videos on social media.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once an exact location was discovered it was then possible to trace an entire trench network using satellite images.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>2. Tokmak</b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The small city of Tokmak lies on a key route in the south-east of the country that Ukrainian forces may want to use to cut off Crimea from other Russian-held territories.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There have been reports that Ukrainian civilians have been moved out in order to turn the city into a military fortress. This would provide soldiers with access to supplies and a base to retreat to.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The satellite image above shows that a network of trenches in two lines has been dug north of Tokmak - the direction Ukraine would have to attack from.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Behind these trenches is a further ring of fortifications around the city, with three layers of defences that can be seen distinctly in this close-up satellite image.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The top of the satellite image shows an anti-tank ditch. These are usually at least 2.5m deep and designed to trap any enemy tanks that attempt to cross.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Behind the ditch are several rows of dragon's teeth and another trench network.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But Ukrainian forces are likely to face further traps.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's highly likely that mines have also been hidden between Tokmak's three defence lines, says Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Minefields are a standard part of every defence, and the Russians have used them extensively throughout the war.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Here they will be large and better concealed, slowing down Ukrainian attacks so that other combat elements, like artillery and infantry, can strike the attacking forces."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">BBC Verify has also discovered three other towns near Tokmak have been similarly fortified.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>3. E105 highway</b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A line of anti-tank ditches and trenches now runs alongside a 22-mile (35km) stretch of the E105 main highway, west of Tokmak.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The E105 is strategically important, connecting Russian-held Melitopol in the south with the northern city of Kharkiv, held by Ukraine. The side that controls it can easily move around troops around the region.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If Ukrainian forces attempt to use this road, Russia will likely target it with heavy artillery from behind their defences. Russia's position is also in range of another nearby road - the T401 - which could also be targeted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The Russians are worried about the recently built Ukrainian armour units. If these units can get on a main highway, they can move very quickly," says Mr Cancian.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The Russian defences aim to push them off the roads and therefore slow them down."</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>4. Rivnopil, north of Mariupol</b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The port of Mariupol has a strategic position between the Russian-occupied territories in the east and Crimea in the south. It also became a symbol of resistance to invasion when a hard-core of fighters held out for months as the city was besieged.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Given Russia expects Ukraine to try to retake it, BBC Verify decided to look at the territory surrounding the city - leading to the discovery of a collection of circular trenches.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Located near the small village of Rivnopil about 34 miles (55km) north of Mariupol, each circular trench has a mound of soil in the middle, possibly either to protect artillery or to keep guns stable. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>