Ukrainian line
| Ukrainian Line | |
|---|---|
Novorossiysk Governorate of the Russian Empire | |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1731–1764 |
| In use | 1731–1770th |
| Materials | Natural features, moats, earthworks |
Ukrainian defensive line was a Russian heavily fortified defensive line on the territory of modern Ukraine built between 1731–1764 on the lands of the Zaporozhian Sich and the Cossack Hetmanate. Built by imperial Russia, it strengthened the defense of the southern borders from Tatar incursions[1] and established military bases in approximation to the Crimea. 285 kilometers in length, it comprised 16 newly-constructed forts and 4 old forts repaired. The first stage was built from 1731–40 and subsequent construction began in the 1740s.
History of construction
Since the late 1720s, the
Azov Sea, work on the line was terminated, and with the construction of the Dnieper line
in 1770–1783, the Ukrainian line lost its military defensive value.
Structure of the Line
The line ran from the
forts and 49 redoubts
.
Locations
| Fortress Name | Other Name | Town | Years | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Borisoglebskaya fortress |
Parhomiv Buyrak, after 1738 called Tenth Fortress | Krasnohrad | 1731–1742 | 48.803148, 34.330804 |
Bilevska fortress |
49.369017, 35.452845 | |||
| Donetskaya fortress | 49.163890, 36.890280 | |||
| Efrem fortress | Yefremivka | 1731–1742 | 49.441978, 36.064019 | |
| Kozlivska fortress | Krutoyarska Fortress | Zaliniyne (neighborhood) at Skalonivky | 1731 | 49.189962, 35.169081 |
| Livenskaya fortress | Livens'ke/Mayachka | 49.109136, 34.519317 | ||
| Orel fortress | after 1738 called Ninth Fortress | Dyachkivka | 1731–1742 | 49.472411, 35.722404 |
| Ryazhskaya fortress | Ryaske | 49.173816, 34.916266 | ||
| St. Alexis fortress | Oleksiivs'ka | 1731–1742 | 49.392243, 36.264049 | |
| St. John (Ioanivska) Fortress | Oktyabrs'ke | 1731–1742 | 49.440044, 35.585453 | |
| St. Michael fortress | Michael fortress, after 1738 called Kyselna Fortress (Kisel, Kizel) | Mykhailivka | 1731–1742 | 49.321668, 36.446030 |
| St. Paraskeva fortress | Paraskivska Fortress | Paraskoviya | 1731–1742 | 49.517610, 35.868816 |
| St. Peter fortress | Peter's fortress to 1738, after called Donetsk fortress | village Petrivske | 1731 | 49.163730, 36.890191 |
| St. Theodore fortress | Theodore fortress after 1738 called Driyetska fortress or New Castle) | Zaliniyne | 1731 | 49.168657, 35.093911 |
| Slobodskaya fortress | after 1738 called Lozovaja Fortress | Pavlovka | 1731 | 49.215590, 36.578546 |
| Tambov fortress | after 1738 called Buzova castle or fortress Busov | village Mar'yivka | 1731 | 49.136049, 36.741880 |
| Vasylivska fortress | 1731–1736 | 49.164035, 34.752155 |
For defense there were 20 regiments of
Bilevska
castle was the center of the line. Until 1764, a land militia office was located there.
References
- ^ Serhii Plokhy. "Ukraine and Russia: Representations of the Past", 2008, p. 60
- ^ Brian Davies. "Empire and Military Revolution in Eastern Europe: Russia's Turkish Wars in the Eighteenth Century. Continuum International Publishing Group", 2011., p. 172
- ^ Brian Davies. "Empire and Military Revolution in Eastern Europe: Russia's Turkish Wars in the Eighteenth Century. Continuum International Publishing Group", 2011., p. 205