Meet the soldiers clearing mines for Ukraine’s counteroffensive

Nearly three months into their counteroffensive, the Ukrainian army has finally found a way to breach the first line of Russian defence. Ukraine has moved through minefields, ‘dragon’s teeth’ defences and swarms of drones. They have retaken the village of Robotyne which lies on the highway to Tokmak, the next objective on the way to Melitopol (one of the main Ukrainian targets for blocking the land corridor to Crimea). Russia is trying to reinforce its defences, while Kyiv is anticipating a much-needed breakthrough.   

Russian forces have built some of the most extensive battlefield fortifications seen in Europe since the second world war to defend those borders it has managed to establish. To date, approximately 1,500 mines have been planted per square kilometre in the south of Ukraine. The Ukrainian army now has to face a layered Russian defence north of the village of Novoprokopivka, one that is manned by Russian reserves, an extensive artillery, and the same mine density as on the path to Robotyne.