On the Black Sea coast in the Odessa region, fortification structures—tetrapods, designed to protect against a potential Russian landing—have begun to be buried in sand and, according to experts, no longer serve their intended purpose. Issues with these protective structures have arisen in the "Tuzlovsky Limans" National Nature Park, where they were installed.
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SubscribeIvan Rusev, a doctor of biological sciences, shared on his Facebook that the tetrapods were meant to shield the coast from enemy sabotage and landing groups; however, the opinions of coastal management specialists were overlooked during their installation.
Errors in the design phase led to the tetrapods being placed in locations where they quickly became buried in sand, thereby losing their protective function.
"Installing them 'anywhere' without expert assessment is simply foolish," Rusev stated.
The expert added that authorities did not consult with professionals in coastal protection, despite the fact that such structures are easily affected by waves and wind. Without proper installation, sandy beaches can move these structures, resulting in a loss of their effectiveness.
Photographs published by the scientist provide evidence of this. Meanwhile, local authorities assure that the work on strengthening the defense of the Odessa region is nearly complete. Rusev speculates that the ineffective fortifications may be a result of improper use of budget funds.
At the beginning of 2024, nearly 20 billion hryvnias were allocated for fortification and construction of defensive lines in Ukraine, and the Odessa region actively attracted machinery and labor to carry out these tasks. However, local resident Vitaliy Oplachko sarcastically noted on Facebook that "the money literally went into the sand", alluding to the misappropriation of funds and the ineffectiveness of the installed tetrapods.