Ukraine’s Defensive Strategy: Massive Spending and Unjustified Fortifications
Journalist and serviceman Yuriy Butusov, currently serving as a rifleman in the 13th National Guard Brigade 'Harta,' has raised a critical issue regarding the efficiency and targeted use of Ukrainian defense resources. According to him, Ukraine has spent tens of billions of hryvnias on constructing fortifications, many of which later proved to be ineffective or used only nominally. The lack of a clear responsibility mechanism for the construction of such structures has led to dispersed funds and diminished their effectiveness. In the podcast 'Questions,' Butusov emphasized that the organization of defensive structures in Ukraine has long required a systemic approach and precise coordination. Meanwhile, he pointed out that responsibility for building fortifications is often shifted between military departments and civilian administrations, which overall reduces efficiency and creates chaos in the process. As a result, frontend complaints about the quality and purposefulness of the structures are common, while civilian administrations claim they are acting strictly according to military directives. Butusov estimated that total expenditures on fortification construction during the war have reached at least 30-35 billion hryvnias (approximately one billion dollars), but their actual effectiveness is close to zero. Many of the structures are either unusable during combat or serve only for 'formal' purposes. Most are located in the second or third defensive line and provide minimal strategic value, which is utterly illogical and absurd from a military standpoint. Recent assessments show that efforts in fortification construction are largely futile — most structures remain ineffective, with only 1-2% truly aiding defense. While Ukraine spends billions on these structures, the reality of active combat demonstrates that these investments are unlikely to yield significant results. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue their advances due to poorly built and ineffective defensive lines, especially in the Sumy region. As noted earlier by Butusov, the deterioration of fortification quality also reflects strategic uncertainty and deficiencies in Ukraine’s defense management system. To change the situation, there is a need for deeper analysis and improvement of planning and construction mechanisms, responsible decision-making, and a refusal to fund unproductive projects. Failure to do so will leave Ukraine's security at continued risk due to disorganized and ineffective resource expenditure.