It has been several months since the Baltic defense ministers announced the plan to build a joint defense line. In recent weeks, metal hedges, concrete blocks, and "dragon's teeth" have been deployed in Latgale, including along roads. This is what the army calls structures to delay an enemy moving, for example, in a column of tanks. Each type of structure has its function. Concrete blocks, known as Lego blocks, are easier to hide behind, but dragon's teeth are harder for the enemy to move.
"This material was already used during the Second World War. They can still be seen here and there in Europe, grown into forests or moss. It seemed that they would be history, but unfortunately, the real war in Ukraine proves that it is still an effective tool," said NBS Engineering Inspector Kaspars Lazdiņš.
For the time being, the army is deploying the obstacles in clusters at sites owned by municipalities or public authorities near the borders with Russia and Belarus. Later, they will be dispersed. Not in a continuous line, like the fence, but in places where the soldiers deem it necessary. We need to prepare well in advance, because when war breaks out there is no time, and this is also a lesson from the Ukrainian experience, the colonel said.
"We bring these materials not only to potentially stop the movement in wartime but also to discourage them from such thoughts," Lazdiņš explains.
Many different companies, including local ones, have applied for and won tenders.
"In our case, all the elements are produced by "Daugavpils dzelzsbetons" Ltd, based in Daugavpils. The raw materials, which are inert materials, are sourced in Elerne, which is also right on the border. Local transport companies are employed for deliveries. So I would say that this measure has hit the target in terms of providing jobs for regional companies," says Ojārs Jaksts, Chairman of the Board of Daugavpils dzelzsbetons Ltd.
"We would be happy to have a clear plan for the next purchases and the volumes and things for next year. This way we could stay here in Daugavpils and plan for a longer period of time, which would give an opportunity to the local economy," says Osvalds Trofimovs, Chairman of the Board of PREfabrica Ltd.
The defense line will still need ammunition: explosives and mines. These will not be placed in fields, forests or under roads, but will be deployed in engineering resource parks. These too have yet to be built.
