- British intelligence reports have reported casualties as Russian forces “withdrew through minefields”.
- The UK Defense Ministry said military progress on both sides of the conflict over the past two days has been mixed.
- This comes as Ukraine launched its long-awaited counterattack this week.
British intelligence said there were increasing reports of casualties as Russian forces “withdrew through their own minefields”, with a “mixed” performance in the last 48 hours of fighting.
of Information update on Saturdaythe UK Ministry of Defense, outlined the progress made on both sides of the Ukraine conflict.
“In some areas, Ukrainian forces have made good progress and are likely to have breached the first line of Russian defense. In others, Ukrainian forces have made less progress,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement. .
The ministry added: “Russia’s record has been mixed. With reports of increasing casualties among Russian forces retreating through minefields, it is likely that some units are conducting credible mobile defense operations. , some troops are withdrawing disorderly,” he added.
The Russian Air Force has also conducted “abnormal activity” over southern Ukraine, but it remains “unclear” whether its tactical airstrikes in the region were effective, according to intelligence services.
mine warfare
An insider recently reported that Russia is building a complex defense complex in southeastern Ukraine consisting of razor wires, anti-tank obstacles and deadly minefields.
two US officials told CNN on Thursday. Landmines are also reportedly affecting Ukrainian armored vehicles.
Another aspect of mine warfare is the US-made artillery shells used by the Ukrainian military to lay anti-tank mines in flight.
The United States supplies Ukraine with more than 10,000 of these remote anti-armor mine systems, plus 155mm howitzers capable of firing nearly 11 miles.
Insider Sam Fellman writes that minelayers are designed to force desperate choices. Vehicles must travel through mine-laid gauntlets to deliver fresh troops, ammunition, fuel, and food to frontline positions. It can also be used to set traps on escape routes for front line troops.
Ukraine confirmed a long-awaited counteroffensive was underway, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying on Friday that the Ukrainian army was putting up a “very tough fight”.
While the fog of war makes it difficult to decide on a major operation, one of the aims of the counterattack could be to cut the so-called land bridges connecting Russia with the Russian-controlled areas in the southeast by marching into the Sea of Azov, insiders said. magazine’s Ryan Pickrell writes. .