譯/陳曉慈
深掘地表之下的防禦工事
Near one of the deadliest front lines of the war in Ukraine, a vast complex of trenches, traps and other obstacles has sprung up in recent months.
在俄烏戰爭其中一條最致命的前線附近，由壕溝、陷阱與其他防禦工事構成的綜合設施，近幾個月如雨後春筍般出現。
The fortifications were built by Russia to slow Ukraine from trying to take Popasna, a town Russia captured in May. They are just a tiny part of an immense Russian defensive network spreading across Ukraine, a New York Times analysis of satellite radar data shows.
這是俄國建造的防禦系統，意在延緩烏克蘭收復波巴斯納，這是俄國去年五月占領的城鎮。紐約時報對衛星雷達資料的一項分析顯示，這不過是俄國遍及烏克蘭全境廣大防禦網的一小部分。
These structures could buy Russia crucial time to mobilize and train additional troops to regain momentum in the war. But Ukraine may test Russia's ability to hold these positions over the winter.
這些工事能為俄國爭取寶貴時間，動員並訓練更多部隊以重振戰場上的氣勢。但今年冬天，烏克蘭也許將考驗俄軍是否有能力守住這些陣地。
Trenches are not new to Ukraine. Trench warfare has long been a feature of the battle in eastern Ukraine for the Donbas region. Ukrainians fight from their own trenches on their side of the line near Popasna, where Russians are waging an intense campaign to dislodge Ukrainian troops from the city of Bakhmut.
壕溝對烏克蘭不是新鮮事。在烏克蘭東部頓巴斯地區，壕溝戰長久以來都是戰鬥的特點。在接近波巴斯納的防線，烏克蘭人在己方的壕溝中作戰，俄羅斯人則持續發動強烈攻勢，試圖將烏軍驅離巴赫姆特。
But the pace and the scale of Russian construction over the past couple of months is unmatched.
然而俄軍過去幾個月所建構的戰壕系統，建構速度與規模都與之前大不相同。
The fortifications show how Russia's military is trying to set up more robust, defensible positions against Ukrainian pressure, often with the help of natural obstacles like rivers.
這些防禦系統顯示，俄軍為了應付烏軍壓力，正試圖構築更堅固、防禦力更高的陣地，且經常借助於如河川等天然屏障之力。
Last November, Ukraine recaptured a large amount of territory in the south, including the regional capital of Kherson, pushing Russian forces across the Dnieper River. The river serves as a natural barrier, and Russia has built an enormous series of defensive obstacles south of the river to discourage Ukraine from crossing it.
去年11月，烏克蘭在南部收復了包括地區首府赫松市在內的大面積領土，迫使俄軍退至第聶伯河彼岸。俄軍以河流作為天然屏障，於河川以南建造了大量連串防禦工事，防止烏軍渡河。
Among the defenses are miles-long rows of concrete pyramids known as dragon's teeth and deep ditches called tank traps. Both are designed to slow Ukrainian vehicles and force them into preset positions where Russian forces can target them.
其中包括數列長達數英里、外號龍齒的巨大混凝土錐，以及名為戰車陷阱的深層壕溝。兩者皆是為了遲滯烏克蘭戰鬥車，迫使他們移動至俄軍能瞄準的特定位置。
Russia is also building miles of trenches, and pillboxes — small structures for their troops to shoot from.
俄國也正在建造長達數英里的壕溝以及碉堡，這是一種小型建築物，讓俄軍能躲藏射擊。
The fortifications could slow Ukraine's army — but they are effective only if manned correctly.
這些工事的確可能拖延烏軍，但只有在正確操作下，才能發揮功用。
If the positions are unmanned, they are useful only if there is an orderly Russian retreat, one of the most difficult tactical operations to conduct, said Philip Wasielewski, a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
美國智庫外交政策研究所研究員瓦謝萊夫斯基指出，若無人駐守，這些工事唯有在俄軍有組織撤退時才派上用場，而這是最難執行戰術行動之一。
