“Neither pickup nor Bradley can enter”: retreating Russians have mined sector where three Ukrainian oblasts meet so heavily that only ground robots can cross
On the junction of the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, Russian forces lace their old positions and roads with mines and FPVs.
Retreating Russian forces have heavily mined the Oleksandrivka sector, where three Ukrainian oblasts meet, according to Serhii Kolesnychenko, a communications officer of Ukraine's 148th Separate Zhytomyr Artillery Brigade. The mining has been so extensive that only ground robots can cross parts of the area, as neither pickup trucks nor Bradley infantry fighting vehicles can navigate the treacherous terrain.
The Russians are strategically placing mines not only on their old positions but also on treelines, approaches, roads, and routes behind them, using FPV drones and remote strikes to slow down any potential advance. Kolesnychenko explained that the mined area is not a conventional minefield, as Russia now combines mining with remote strike capabilities.
After retreating, the Russians must inspect, demine, and clear the ground before it is safe. The only machines capable of working in this hazardous environment are ground robotic systems, as neither typical vehicles can traverse the mined landscape. Ukraine has been utilizing unmanned ground vehicles for tasks such as supply, casualty evacuation, and mine-clearing in areas too dangerous for human crews.
The deliberate act of mining is not a byproduct but a calculated strategy to hinder the Ukrainian advance and the logistics that must follow it. The Russians face challenges using their own vehicles and weapons due to the high density of Ukrainian FPV drones overhead, which has contributed to their retreat.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
