Whole regions in Ukraine are contaminated with Russian mines – Zelenskyj speaks of “mine terror”. At the front, Moscow has been concentrating on laying minefields for defense for some time, according to British intelligence. As a result, these are probably not very effective.
According to British intelligence services, Russia lacks suitable personnel to defend the minefields laid during the Ukraine war. In recent months, the Russian armed forces have concentrated on expanding their defenses with anti-tank and anti-personnel mines on many sectors along the front line, according to the daily summary report from the British Ministry of Defence.
However, the British point out that such minefields are only a hurdle for professional troops if they are protected by appropriate surveillance and shelling. However, the Russians’ lack of trained personnel and suitable resources poses a major challenge for Moscow, London suspects.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously accused Russia of “mine terrorism”. “The terrorists are deliberately trying to leave as many deadly traps as possible,” he said in one of his video messages. In order to remove the Russian mines, Zelenskyy asked for international help. Addressing the New Zealand Parliament, he said: “No child can really live in peace as long as they can be killed by a hidden Russian mine.” Addressing New Zealand because its armed forces are considered particularly experienced in this field, he called on them to lead the international effort to clear mines in his country.
In Ukraine, 174,000 square kilometers of land are “contaminated with mines or unexploded warheads,” Zelenskyy said. Countless mines belonging to the Russian army, which has been waging a war of aggression in Ukraine since February, are also floating in the Black Sea.
According to a report by the Landmine Monitor published in mid-November, 277 civilians were killed by mines and explosive remnants of ammunition in Ukraine in the first nine months of this year. Russia has used at least seven types of landmines since invading Ukraine in late February, the report said. There is also confirmed evidence that Russian troops planted booby traps and explosive devices in Ukraine prior to their withdrawal.
