Russian forces lose another vehicle in botched attempt to clear Ukrainian minefield near Donetsk

Nowomykhailivka is a village located in Eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region, near Vuhledar, Maryinka, and Olenivka. The Russian forces recently attempted to break through the front line and take over a minefield, defended by Ukrainian soldiers. Originally planned to be a grand show of force by the occupying forces, this effort did not go as planned.

A minefield presents a significant hazard where lives and valuable equipment are at risk, which led the Russians to try and breach it. The strategy seemed simple. An armored vehicle filled with ammunition and explosives was sent into the midst of the field, the ensuing explosion meant to trigger surrounding mines and cause secondary explosions.

To their disappointment, this well-intended plan backfired, resulting in nothing more than a hole in the ground.

Their remotely controlled MT-LB armored vehicle was filled with explosives and sent into the minefield, where it exploded spectacularly. However, there were no secondary explosions; a solitary landmine derailed the intruders' plan, destroying another one of their military vehicles. Thus ended their attempt to infiltrate the front near the small village of Nowomykhailivka.

The magnanimous explosion indicated that the Russians had packed the vehicle with a substantial amount of explosives; unfortunately, their effort failed. The anti-tank mines, which the invaders were likely most interested in, did not detonate. Instead, they remain underground, posing a significant threat to any tank or armored vehicle on the front line.

Currently, Ukraine is among the most heavily mined countries in the world.

Both sides of the conflict have contributed to this state of affairs. The Ukrainians have steadfastly maintained their lines since 2014 when the Russians occupied the eastern part of the country and Crimea. As the aggressor forces receded under pressure from the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2022, they set up new minefields and strong fortifications, effectively stalling the counteroffensive.

General Sergei Surovikin is attributed with the successful establishment of these Russian fortifications.

Mines are not only anti-tank weapons capable of destroying tanks or armored vehicles, but also micro and virtually invisible anti-personnel mines (referred to as 'butterflies'). Some of these are made of plastic and are randomly strewn across the front line. Consequently, even rapid mine-clearing efforts cannot ensure complete safety.

Ukraine will need to devote considerable time post-war to clean their land from the remnants of Russian aggression and ensure the safety of its citizens.