Fortifications in east 'practically 90%' ready - Ukraine minister

11:15, 23.05.2015 1 min read

Fortifications being built by Ukraine in its eastern part are "practically 90%" ready, Ukrainian Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Services Hennadiy Zubko has reported.

"The deadlines remain unchanged, we are not changing anything: the deadlines for putting the first and second lines into use come next week, military and volunteer inspectors will go along and make extra examinations. Today we can see practically 90% readiness," Zubko said at a briefing in Kyiv.

He said about 14,000 railcar loads of materials had been delivered to the construction sites in Donetsk and Luhansk regions from all over Ukraine since the project started off.

"It's timber, concrete, other materials. Each stronghold takes up practically 50 hectares," Zubko said.

The fortifications are to include 300 strongholds under a directive approved at a conference in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, in March that was chaired by Zubko and brought together several regional governors.

The Defense Ministry estimates the construction cost of one stronghold at UAH 2.5 million.