Ukrainian demining units clearing frontline ahead of counteroffensive — The Washington Post
The demining operations are carried out manually at night to avoid revealing potential positions from which the offensive will be launched.
For obvious reasons, Ukraine has laid thousands of mines along the front line, and now the Armed Forces need to eliminate them in order to advance into occupied territory.
The article states that heavy machinery cannot be used for demining due to the need for stealth.
Read also: Third of Ukraine’s territory needs demining, Ministry of Internal Affairs says
Therefore, Ukrainian sappers work manually, primarily during nighttime. In an interview with journalists, the 42-year-old commander of the engineering unit, known as Klimat, mentioned that such operations have been ongoing for weeks. Once the path is cleared, signs are installed, some with lighting, indicating the direction of Russian positions.
Demining efforts are not limited to controlled territories alone, as Russia has also laid mines along the approaches to its own positions.
The Washington Post describes the defensive system of the Russians in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, which often comes up in discussions about the counteroffensive. If Ukraine manages to liberate its territories in this region, it would then be able to cut off the overland corridor to Crimea.
To hold the occupied territories in Zaporizhzhya, the Kremlin has transformed vast agricultural land into a fortress with a web of trenches and other obstacles, visible even from space. These defensive fortifications aim to slow down Ukraine’s potential counteroffensive and channel Ukrainian forces into a narrow passage. This strategic positioning would make it easier for the Russians to attack Ukrainian forces, likely resulting in significant bloodshed.
Read also: Over 700 Ukrainian civilians injured by land mines, including up to 100 children
Serhiy Matveychuk, a colonel in Ukraine’s Directorate of Engineer Troops, told the WP that Russia has created a “massive system of engineering barriers” that pose a “serious obstacle to the mobility of troops.”
He explained that while anti-tank mines can be detected using drones, the situation with anti-personnel mines is more complex.
Once the Ukrainians cross their own lines, they will need to break through Russian minefields, which requires greater speed.
Although mines can be detonated with artillery fire in theory, the military states that this method does not guarantee their complete destruction.
A more modern approach involves the use of specialized equipment designed to penetrate such defenses, including mechanized demining systems, linear charges, and engineering tanks.
Ukraine possesses its own demining equipment, such as the Soviet-developed UR-77 Meteorit.
Western partners have also provided modern engineering tanks, including the anti-mine tank Leopard 2R, a modification of the renowned German battle tank. Matveychuk noted that the Leopard 2R can not only clear mines but also remove other types of obstacles, such as fences and embankments.
The M1150 assault breacher vehicle, based on the chassis of the American M1 Abrams main battle tank, is considered the best option for this work. While Kyiv has requested this technology from Washington, it is not currently being supplied.
Read also: Two men injured, one loses both legs, after tripping Russian mine in Kherson Oblast
Some analysts also highlight another issue: while the West has focused on providing missiles, armored vehicles, and ammunition to Kyiv, it has not provided adequate support for breaking through Russia’s defenses.
Matveychuk identifies the lack of engineering tanks and similar equipment in the Ukrainian army as a “problematic” issue.
“Despite the significant amount of armament provided to Ukraine for repelling the aggressor’s attack, the provision of engineering units with engineering tanks and other equipment remains a problematic issue,” he told the publication.
Should Ukrainian forces manage to find a path through the minefields, they will need to implement a comprehensive military strategy to achieve a swift breakthrough. In the event of a successful breakthrough, Ukrainian demining units will resume their work of clearing territories along the front line.
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