[News in War History] Ukraine Caught in Russian Defense Line 'Dragon's Teeth'... Notorious Since WWII

Ukraine Fails to Breach Russia's First Line of Defense
'Dragon's Teeth' First Installed on the Siegfried Line
Ukraine War at a Crossroads Between Peace Talks and Prolonged Conflict

Despite a large-scale counteroffensive operation carried out by the Ukrainian military for over two months, it is reported that they have struggled to break through the defensive lines held by Russian forces, raising concerns about a stalemate on the front lines. Particularly, pessimism about the Ukraine war is spreading widely among Western countries. As analyses suggest that the Ukrainian forces have not even breached the first line of Russia's multilayered defenses, voices are growing louder that the focus should shift from continuing the war to peace negotiations.

The reason why the Ukrainian military, even with various tanks and heavy weapons supplied by the West, is unable to penetrate the Russian defensive lines is said to be due to anti-tank defense structures known as "Dragon's teeth" built along the entire front. Around these defenses, various mines, trenches, and air defense facilities have been continuously installed, making it difficult for Ukrainian armored units to break through.

The 'Dragon's teeth,' an anti-tank defense facility installed by the Russian military in the occupied areas of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. [Image source=Russian Ministry of Defense website]

These Dragon's teeth, which even the most advanced Western weapons cannot penetrate, are known to be very simple structures made of concrete blocks. Considering the various efforts Western countries have made to transport tanks to Ukraine, this is quite ironic. In this segment, we will explore the history of such cost-effective defensive facilities on the front lines and the Dragon's teeth in particular.

◆News: "Ukraine Counterattacked for 8 Weeks but Could Not Breach Russia's First Defensive Line"

The Ukrainian military shelling Russian forces near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. Bakhmut=Reuters·Yonhap News

According to CNN on the 8th (local time), recently, senior U.S. and Western officials received the latest intelligence briefing from the U.S. Department of Defense regarding the Ukraine war. The U.S. military's analysis of the frontline situation of the Ukrainian forces revealed a serious stalemate.

A senior Western diplomat told CNN, "The Russian military has established multilayered defensive lines, and in reality, the Ukrainian forces have not even broken through the first defensive line," adding, "Even if the Ukrainian forces continue fighting, it is highly unlikely that they will suddenly find a breakthrough with their increasingly depleted troops after offensives over the past 7 to 8 weeks."

The reason the ambitious Ukrainian counteroffensive has not gone as planned is presumed to be the dense multilayered Russian defenses. Pyramid-shaped concrete defensive structures called Dragon's teeth, minefields, and various fortifications are blocking the advance of Ukrainian tanks, while various air defense facilities are obstructing the Ukrainian Air Force's counterattacks.

Especially with the arrival of autumn, when tank and vehicle movement becomes very difficult, the period during which large-scale counteroffensives can be conducted is gradually shortening. Starting from mid-October, mainly in northern Ukraine, the so-called "Rasputitsa" phenomenon is expected, where major arterial roads become trapped in mud, limiting the continuation of Ukrainian counteroffensives to before this period.

◆History 1: Caltrops Used Across East and West

The appearance of a bit used by Goguryeo soldiers excavated in the Gwangjin-gu area of Seoul. [Image source=National Museum of Korea]

Defensive facilities designed to significantly slow down enemy advances and cause stalemates on the front lines have been invented long ago. One representative artifact is the "caltrop," found across various civilizations in both the East and West.

Caltrops were installed not only on defensive structures such as city walls and palisades but also on major arterial roads to block the movement of enemy soldiers and horses. They were usually hidden underground and named after the caltrop fruit, which has four spikes and resembles the shape of the device, also commonly called "water chestnut." These defensive devices were designed to pierce the feet of people or horses passing by, making passage difficult.

The caltrop shown in the photo above was excavated in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and is known to have been buried by Goguryeo troops when they controlled the Han River basin. In China, caltrops were widely used from the 4th century BCE during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods when iron tools became prevalent, and in Korea, they were commonly used from the Three Kingdoms period. The "Samguk Sagi" (Historical Records of the Three Kingdoms) records that in 661, the lord of Bukhansanseong installed caltrops outside the fortress to prevent people and horses from passing before a war.

The barbed wire, commonly known as the symbol of the military demarcation line, was invented around the 1860s during the American Civil War. Originally, it was a fence designed to prevent cattle or sheep from escaping ranches in the U.S., inspired by rose thorns. It became an essential item on battlefields during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904. During World War I, prolonged attrition warfare centered on barbed wire, trenches, and machine guns caused massive casualties.

◆History 2: Nazi Germany's Dragon's Teeth on the Siegfried Line...Symbol of Conflict Zones

In 1944, U.S. troops breaking through the Siegfried Line of Nazi Germany. Pyramid-shaped anti-tank defenses called "Dragon's teeth" are scattered throughout the area. [Image source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)]

The Dragon's teeth used by Russian forces today first appeared during World War II. At that time, Nazi Germany constructed a defensive line called the "Siegfriedstellung" (Siegfried Line) stretching about 630 km from the Netherlands to the French border. It was a military defense line built to counter the French Maginot Line. Dragon's teeth were installed throughout this defensive line.

The Siegfried Line was composed of multilayered defenses. First, mines were laid, followed by Dragon's teeth about 1 meter high, with additional mines planted between the teeth. Behind them were barbed wire, trenches, and defensive bases. Usually, two or more rows of Dragon's teeth were installed, and in many areas, more than four rows were set up.

This Siegfried Line and its Dragon's teeth were notorious in actual combat. During World War II, the Allied forces fighting Nazi Germany launched "Operation Market Garden" in 1944, deploying airborne troops in the Netherlands to bypass the line rather than break through it directly. This risky operation ended unsuccessfully. The Dragon's teeth were finally breached in March 1945, when Nazi Germany's defeat was almost certain.

After World War II, Dragon's teeth were installed in various conflict zones. Before the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, they were set up between East and West Berlin in Germany, and after the breakup of Yugoslavia, they appeared in many Eastern European countries that experienced conflicts. Some remain in parts of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Following the Ukraine war, not only Russia but also Ukraine and Poland are reportedly installing them along border areas to prevent Russian invasions.

◆Implication: Russia's Defensive Line Stronger Than Expected...Crossroads Between Ceasefire and Prolonged War

On the 2nd (local time), a Ukrainian soldier engaged in a counteroffensive operation in Donetsk Province, eastern Ukraine, is seen wearing so-called "Spider boots" to avoid landmine explosions and other dangers while moving. [Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News]

As Russian defensive lines remain difficult to breach, concerns are rising that blame may be cast between the U.S. and other Western countries and Ukraine. The West may pressure Ukraine to quickly reach a ceasefire with Russia even if it means losing some territory, while Ukraine may demand faster military support from the West, leading to mutual blame and worsening relations.

CNN cited a senior Western diplomat saying, "Contrary to initial expectations, the disappointing results of the counteroffensive will lead to mutual accusations between Ukraine and Western supporters," warning that "this could cause divisions within the alliance surrounding Ukraine." The Ukrainian government has been appealing that delayed Western military support is hindering effective counteroffensives, while skepticism about further aid is spreading both inside and outside Western countries.

On the 6th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated in an interview, "The counteroffensive is progressing more slowly than expected," adding, "This is very difficult when (military) equipment is lacking," emphasizing the need for faster Western military support. However, Western countries continue to hesitate over the massive budgets required for supplying weapons to Ukraine, and the position of the U.S. Biden administration, especially ahead of next year's presidential election, is becoming increasingly difficult.

If Ukraine fails to show significant results in the counteroffensive by next month, the Ukraine war is expected to stand at a crossroads between negotiations for a ceasefire and an indefinite prolonged conflict. Above all, it is hoped that civilian casualties will not increase further.