 Russia builds defences deep inside its own territory. Russia is building defences hundreds of miles away from its borders with Ukraine, fearing a counter-offensive so sweeping it could push into Russian territory according to British intelligence. The UK Ministry of Defence posted an update on Twitter noting the presence of trench networks well inside internationally recognised Russian territory including in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. The reason per the update was Russian leaders deep concerned that Ukraine could achieve a major breakthrough. Anticipation is building around a long-promised counter-attack from Ukraine which has for the past months been building its strength while trying to hold back the grinding advances of the Russian military through winter. Ukraine's defence minister last week said that the counter-offensive was mostly ready to go. Ukraine has been organising new brigades and has recently received powerful new weapons from Western Allies including the Leopard, Challenger and Abrams tanks. The extra troops and firepower could help achieve a breakthrough in countering the invasion which has been mostly static for months. However, a serious effort to invade Russia is beyond what most observers consider feasible for Ukraine which has far fewer resources than Russia and has been focused on defending its own territory. Ukraine hasn't made any attempts so far to occupy Russian land and it stated aim in the war is to restore control over Ukraine's internationally recognised territory including the Crimea Peninsula which Russia has held since 2014. The UK update noted that the defences far from the front line might be more of a propaganda effort to harden the population's resolve by making them think the Ukrainian military could come close to their homes. Some works have likely been ordered by local commanders and civil leaders in attempts to promote the official narrative that Russia is threatened by Ukraine and NATO. The update said the UK update noted that Russia has also been fortifying defence lines inside occupied Ukrainian territory much closer to the fighting.