Russia is building defense lines in Crimea: are they afraid of a counter-offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine or corruption schemes?
Corruption has always been in the blood of Muscovites
During the last year, the Russians have been actively building fortifications on the territory of the annexed peninsula. They are currently setting up anti-tank barriers on the conditional "border" of the Kerch Peninsula.
It is worth noting that the cost of building the "back line" in the Belgorod region reached almost 10 billion rubles, that is, almost 132 million dollars. And that is why it is worth saying that such schemes are used, first of all, for the distribution of budget funds.
In this context, we can also mention the proven corrupt water desalination project that the Russians planned to implement in the Crimea. The Russian government has allocated 48 billion rubles (17.8 billion hryvnias) until 2024 to solve the problem of supplying annexed Crimea with fresh water.
It was a completely corrupt scheme, because soon this project showed the inability of the "authorities" to implement it.
We remind you that a few years ago, the self-proclaimed "boss" of Crimea Serhiy Aksyonov announced the construction of a desalination plant on the occupied peninsula, which was supposed to start on January 1, 2021 and last for about 15 months.
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that there are many supplies of fresh water in the occupied Crimea, but that no one has asked for it. In addition, he assured that water can be found under the Sea of Azov.
Geological research of water reserves at the bottom of the Sea of Azov should take place within the framework of the federal target program "Socio-economic development of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol until 2025". Then "Rosgeologija" received a subsidy in the amount of 70 million rubles for carrying out such works. According to preliminary estimates, it was determined that the total volume of runoff of the Don, Kuban, Beisug and other rivers subchannels in the Sea of Azov water area can reach two billion cubic meters per year. That is, the Russians could count on the annual withdrawal of water from all potential sources of sub-channel runoff, at least in the volume of up to 1.2 billion cubic meters of water.
In this way, the occupiers tried to solve the problem of the peninsula's water supply. But it didn't happen as expected.
In addition, let's remember the so-called "Energomist" in Crimea, who also did not solve the issue of energy supply or energy independence of the peninsula from external factors. And the Russian Federation allocated insane budget funds for him, which ultimately became part of another corruption scheme.
Corruption has always been in the blood of Muscovites.
No, on the other hand, it is worth talking about the possible options of the Russians regarding the de-occupation of the peninsula by the Ukrainian army.
Probably, such a line of defense, according to the Russians, should become the last line of defense of the Russian army during potential battles for Crimea.
It is important to note that such work by the occupiers is a political signal to the local population and Western countries about the likely military scenario of the de-occupation of these territories by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Russian leadership considers potential threats, taking into account all the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, because no one pays attention to Russian "red lines". Valja notes that all levers of military-political pressure and intimidation by the Russian Federation have remained in the past.