KIEV, July 3. /TASS/. Ukraine is completing the construction of fortifications on the demarcation line in the east of the country, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council Oleksandr Turchinov said on Friday. "The construction of defence fortifications took much longer than planned, but it has come to the final stage. A sizable part of defensive pivots has already been built and commissioned by the Armed Forces," he told a meeting in the military operation area on Friday, the Security Council’s press service said.

According to Turchinov, the construction of other defensive fortifications "will be completed in the near future". "The task of the fortifications built along the contact line is "to stop any enemy offensive and create conditions for a strong response," he said.

Turchinov paid special attention to the quality of defence fortifications. "Reinforced-concrete fortifications should protect our military even from direct hits of shells and mines," he said. He pointed to the need of the scrupulous commissioning of defence fortifications "to avoid construction shortcomings that could have an adverse effect on fighters’ security and protection."

The Ukrainian side began to equip the line of demarcation along the area of combat operations last autumn. The construction of fortifications in eastern Ukraine costs about $48 million. The work was due to be completed in May.