Ukraine has started demining on the front line to be able to launch a counteroffensive – WP
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are being assisted by specially modified vehicles based on the German Leopard 2 tank
In recent weeks, the Ukrainian military has been demining the front line in preparation for a possible counteroffensive.
Source. This was reported by The Washington Post with reference to the Ukrainian military.
Both russia and Ukraine have planted thousands of mines along the front line that need to be removed before launching an attack. Ukrainian engineers and sappers are already clearing the fields of mines, including with the help of new equipment, such as specially modified vehicles based on the German Leopard 2 tank.
Special installations, such as the UR-77 Meteorite, can also be used for demining, which allows for clearing passages through minefields.
Some analysts say that while Kyiv's Western allies have supplied missiles, armored vehicles and ammunition, they have not provided enough to break through russian defense lines.
Serhiy Matviychuk, a colonel in the Ukrainian Engineer Troops, said that the Ukrainian army lacks engineer tanks and other similar tools. Matviychuk noted that the best option for clearing minefields would be the M1150 assault vehicle based on the M1 Abrams, but Ukraine has not received such equipment.
Some soldiers have to do the demining manually: the commander of one of the engineering units, who goes by the call sign Klimat, told WP that sappers go out into the fields at night and remove mines. Klimat noted that demining has been going on for several weeks, but would not say where or by what methods. According to him, as soon as the sappers clear the way, signs are set up to show the direction to the russian positions.
According to Ukrainian soldiers, russia is laying its mines in the following pattern: one line of anti-tank mines, a line of anti-personnel mines and booby traps, and then another line of anti-tank mines.
The military says that drones can be used to detect anti-tank mines, but that anti-personnel mines are harder to find.
Background. As a reminder, NSDC Secretary Danilov said that the counteroffensive could begin "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week."
