Area defense

[4] If there were no direct contact between the defending forces and the enemy, a 15–25 km deep supply strip was created in front of the location of the forward defense area.

[2] At this time the second echelon was to strengthen the defense in crisis areas, as well as – to block and eliminate the enemy breakthrough groups by counterattacks and causing them fire damage.

[2] It was supposed to link the fire of all means of destruction (including nuclear strikes, airstrikes by tactical and army aviation, field artillery, etc.)

[2] To successfully implement the area defense and disrupt the enemy's offensive before their forces reached the front line, it was planned to conduct combat operations on the far approaches, to launch preemptive strikes and artillery counterpreparation.

[2] In the support zone his forces were to become a target for the covering troops, whose task was to disorganize the enemy offensive, slow it down, mislead about the true configuration of the defensive lines by means of laying mines, using counterattacks and all sorts of deterrent actions.

[3] If the forward positions could not be held and the fighting spread deep into the occupied territory, the encroaching enemy groups were to be counterattacked to restore the defensive perimeter.