The minefields that Russia created along the front line of more than 1,200 km are the biggest obstacle to Ukraine’s counter-offensive campaign.
World’s largest minefield
Russia has spent months building up a multi-layered defense system, preparing to deal with Ukraine’s counter-offensive. One of the biggest obstacles to Ukraine’s counterattack today is the dense minefields.
According to analysts, Russia has created the world’s largest minefield, along the front line stretching more than 1,200km in Ukraine. This huge amount of mines, combined with the strategic placement and use of lethal mine traps, pose an unprecedented challenge to Kiev’s counter-offensive effort even as Ukraine is armed with tanks and combat vehicles. Western modern infantry combat.
One worrying aspect of these minefields is the layered structure deployed by Russian forces. The above tactic involves placing multiple mines on top of each other, creating a formidable barrier that not only impedes demining efforts but also poses a direct threat to deminers.
The complexity of these minefields has forced some Ukrainian soldiers to make the difficult decision of abandoning Western-made tanks and walking on foot to avoid triggering those deadly traps.
Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said that on average, there are 3-5 mines per square meter.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov recently admitted: “Currently, Ukraine is the country most heavily mined in the world. Minefields stretch for hundreds of kilometers, millions of explosive devices, in some parts of the world. frontline, the density of mines is up to 5 shells/m2”.
According to Reznikov, Ukraine can neutralize Russian minefields, but it is important for allies to “expand and accelerate” training and the provision of demining equipment.
The Guardian reports that the number of deminers in the Ukrainian armed forces is not enough to break through Russia’s sprawling defenses. Moreover, Ukraine’s mine clearance units also face many risks when on duty under the “rain” of Russian fire due to the lack of air support.
With the shortcomings of vehicles such as the US-made Bradley armored fighting vehicle, Ukrainian officials have called on the West to provide advanced fighters such as the F-16 to support and improve operational efficiency. movement of this armored force.
“It can’t be done with only tanks with a few layers of armor because the minefields are too deep. Sooner or later, we will be able to neutralize them with concentrated fire,” commented a Ukrainian general.
Ukraine announces recapture of strategic village in Donetsk
Russia’s solid defense system made Ukraine’s counterattack slower than expected. Despite this, Kiev insists that it has still made important strides on the battlefield.
In the latest development, the Ukrainian military announced on August 16 that it had regained control of Urozhaine, a strategic village in the eastern Donetsk province.
“Ukrainian forces have recaptured Urozhaine, consolidated positions,” Andrii Kovaliov, spokesman for the General Staff of Ukraine, announced on national television.
Urozhaine is located about 100km southwest of the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, near the village of Staromaiorske, which Ukraine recaptured two weeks ago.
Experts assess that Urozhaine is of strategic importance for Russia’s defense of the Southern front. Recapturing Urozhaine allows Ukrainian troops to advance south, cutting off Russia’s land corridor connecting Donbass with the Crimean peninsula.
Moscow has not commented on Kiev’s statement.
