Continuing work on the strengthening of Latvia’s eastern border and the implementation of the anti-mobility plan, today on the Latvian-Russian border near the Terehova border control point, the combat engineers of the National Armed Forces (NBS) dug a road leading to the border. Several such roads have been identified. Today, the first re-excavation was carried out.
The Eastern border military strengthening and anti-mobility plan is part of the creation of the Baltic defense line, which will include the creation of support points for NBS units along the entire border of Russia and Belarus – defensive positions for soldiers, various obstacles, anti-tank ditches, ammunition and mine depots.
In order to prevent the movement of the enemy, one of the first steps in strengthening the eastern border is the digging of existing forest roads by creating anti-tank ditches. “This particular anti-tank ditch is being built here, which is one of the anti-mobility measures. The soldiers are currently digging this road, thus preventing any potential vehicle – such as even tanks – from moving along this road. As we can see, there is a forest around us, the only possibility of movement here could be only this road. And in this way, we achieve the fact that no one will be able to drive from or to the border,” says lieutenant colonel, NBS engineer inspector Kaspars Lazdiņš.
Several such roads have been identified that need to be dug, and coordination processes are currently underway both with the State Border Guard and the State Real Estate, and then also with specific land owners in order to continue the work. Lazdiņš: “Perhaps that road is used for the needs of the State Border Guard to ensure the fulfillment of daily tasks, or State real estates still use the roads during the construction of the fence, so it is important to coordinate with them initially and then with the owners. This was already the first owner, a legal entity, who responded positively to our invitation and allowed us to use his plot of land so that we could re-excavate his property here.”
Next month, contracts will be signed with businessmen for the supply of the necessary material and technical means for the implementation of anti-mobility measures, so that dragon’s teeth, concrete blocks and iron hedgehogs can soon be transported here, and engineers can start placing them in the area. Also in this case, coordination with the land owners – whether it is a state institution, a legal entity or a natural person – will be necessary. Lazdiņš: “The soldiers of Latgale specifically take part here, because they also have both training and practical training, after which they remain in nature as a necessary object.”
The border strengthening and anti-mobility plan envisages that the drainage ditches on the border will also be transformed into anti-tank ditches.
At the same time, currently on the Latvian-Russian border, the armed forces have started to provide support to the State real estate and the State Border Guard in the construction of the fence.
Tags: NBS combat engineers today started reexcavating forest road creating antitank ditch
