The Washington Post: Minefields are biggest obstacle to Ukrainian counteroffensive
Ukraine's counteroffensive is advancing slowly as territories are mined. On the eve of the counteroffensive, Ukraine received less than 15% of all the mining and engineering equipment it requested from Western partners, The Washington Post reports.
The lengthy preparation for the counteroffensive, which began about a month ago in many areas of the battlefield in eastern and southern Ukraine, has given the Russians time to prepare. Areas of up to 16 km have been mined with anti-tank mines. These defensive structures successfully deterred the Ukrainian offensive, the source added.
As a result, according to the Ukrainian military, Ukrainian forces have changed their strategy. Instead of trying to penetrate with infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks, which Western allies have offered Ukraine for a counteroffensive, units are advancing slowly on foot.
According to WP, Ukraine's battle in the minefields has exposed the vulnerability of armored personnel carriers and tanks - especially the new American Bradley fighting vehicles and German Leopard tanks, which officials have deemed very important for Ukraine to retake Russian-occupied territory.
"These vehicles received favorable reviews from soldiers - even after they were detonated by me, most of the men in them survived with only minor injuries," WP adds.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov and Zalujni told WP that he had informed his Western counterparts that they urgently needed more de-mining systems.
US officials told WP that they have supplied Ukraine with almost all the equipment it requested ahead of the counter-offensive. Officials noted that it is not always possible to provide the amount Ukraine requested.
