Kiev Fortified Region
{{Short description|Fortified district of the Soviet Union}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox military structure
| name = Kiev Fortified Region
| coordinates =
| image = Kiur map kravchenko.png
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Map of Kiev fortified. Author O. Kravchenko.
| map_type =
| module = {{Infobox historic site |embed = yes |designation1 = UKRAINE LOCAL |designation1_offname = {{Lang|uk|Комплекс військово-інженерних споруд Київського укріпрайону}} (Complex of military engineering structures of the Kyiv Fortified Region) |designation1_type = History |designation1_number = 513-Кв}}
| map_size =
| type = Fortified Region
| built = 1929–1941
| builder =
| controlledby =
| materials =
| height =
| used =
| condition =
| ownership =
}}
The Kiev Fortified Region (Russian abbreviation КиУР, УР-1, 1-й укреплённый район, 1-й укрепрайон) is a fortified district in the Kyiv area, a complex of defensive structures, consisting of permanent and field fortifications and engineering obstacles. It was built in the period from 1929 to 1941 for the protection of the old border of the USSR. The total length of the fortified region is about 85 km between the flanks, which are anchored on the river Dnieper, and the depth of the defensive zone ranges from 1 to 6 km.
The fortifications had a significant impact in the fighting for the defence of the city in 1941.
Initial construction
According to Order No 90 of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, dated 19 March 1928, a program of fortifications on the country's borders was to be carried out, and in 1928, construction began on the first thirteen fortified regions, including Kiev.
Building started in 1929. The defence zone was identified, and in it were built 120 long-term machine gun emplacements and 45 artillery observation and observation points in a construction program lasting 4 years, from 1929 to 1933. But in 1932, further construction of the fortified area was discontinued.
Second World War
After the annexation of the Poland's eastern territories in 1939, Stalin wanted to push the Soviet defences up to the new borders, creating a series of new fortified regions. The old defences of the Stalin Line were neglected. Only in June 1940 did Stalin finally agree with Zhukov that the old Stalin Line should be partially manned, but the troops found the fortifications 'overgrown with grass' and completely lacking in fixed defences.Overy, Russia's War, p The poor state of the Kiev defences was not unknown to the Soviet leadership: a NKVD report from 1939 stated that 'Only 5 of the 257 structures in the area were prepared for combat' and went on to list a host of deficiencies ranging from uncleared forests limiting fields of fire, no communication or support equipment, and old seals which had decayed. The report went on to state that although the deficiencies had been reported, nothing had been done about them.Murphy, What Stalin Knew: The Enigma of Barbarossa, p45
Restoration of the Kiev fortified area began on June 24, 1941, when the commander of the Southwestern Front, Mikhail Kirponos, gave an order for the rehabilitation of the fortified area, including equipping and arming the pillboxes and the construction of field fortifications.
For these tasks, the population of Kiev was mobilized. By 30 June 50,000 people were involved in the construction, by 2 July 160,000; in the last days of construction, 200,000 workers were involved.
Since the original construction had not anticipated tank attack, no specific measures had been incorporated into the defence system. To eliminate this drawback, 30 km and 15 km long anti-tank ditches were dug.
Also installed were metal hedgehogs and anti-personnel obstacles, among them 16 km of electrified barbed wire and a large number of minefields.
By early July, the German advance had punched a hole in the centre of the Southern Front's defences, and on 9 July, thinking that Kiev was there for the taking, General von Kleist issued orders for III Panzer Corps to capture the city and establish a deep bridgehead east of the Dnieper.Haupt, Army Group South: the Wehrmacht in Russia, 1941-1945, p26
There are reports that the 37th Army drew some of its initial staff from the Fortified Region staff.
Pictures
File:ДОТ№108 КиУР — копия.jpg|Pillbox 108
File:Kiur dot133.jpg|Pillbox 133
File:Dot178 kiur.JPG|Pillbox 178
File:ДОТ номер 178 Киевский укрепрайон.jpg|Pillbox 178. The number «179» was mistakenly added in the postwar period.
File:Kiur dot204.jpg|Pillbox 204
File:Dot 205 kiur.jpg|Pillbox 205
File:ДОТ №179 (с. Вита-Почтовая, Киевский укрепрайон).jpg|Pillbox 211
File:Kyiv Pillbox 408.jpg|Pillbox 408
File:Kyiv Pillbox 413 1.jpg|Pillbox 413
File:Kyiv Pillbox 416.jpg|Pillbox 416
File:Kyiv Pillbox 417.jpg|Pillbox 417
File:Kyiv Pillbox 418.jpg|Pillbox 418
File:Kyiv Pillbox 419 2.jpg|Pillbox 419
File:Kyiv Pillbox 426 1.jpg|Pillbox 426
File:Kyiv Pillbox 427 1.jpg|Pillbox 427
File:Irpin Pillbox 428 1.jpg|Pillbox 428
File:Irpin Pillbox 429 2.jpg|Pillbox 429
File:ДОТ 453.JPG|Pillbox 453
File:ДОТ 456.JPG|Pillbox 456
File:Kyiv Pillbox 457 2.jpg|Pillbox 457
File:Kyiv Pillbox 458.jpg|Pillbox 458
File:Kyiv Pillbox 478.jpg|Pillbox 478
File:ДОТ 480.JPG|Pillbox 480
File:ДОТ 481 1.jpg|Pillbox 481
File:ДОТ 484.JPG|Pillbox 484
References
{{commons category|Kiev Fortified Region}}
{{coord missing|Ukraine}}
Category:Fortifications in Ukraine
Category:Military history of Ukraine