Russia Shows Its Paratroopers Scattering Mines In Field Ahead Of Ukrainian Counteroffensive

Russia has shown its paratroopers scattering mines in a field ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The footage appears to show Russian soldiers preparing the mines on top of an armoured vehicle before it is seen manoeuvring along a dirt track in a forested area.

Two of the vehicles can then be seen firing the mines into the air and scattering them in a field before manoeuvring away as the footage ends.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 22nd May, along with a statement claiming: “Ivanovo paratroopers installed mine-explosive obstacles in possible directions of the breakthrough of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

The Russian MoD added: “In one of the sectors of the special military operation, as a result of the reconnaissance, possible directions for an enemy breakthrough were determined. To strengthen the defence in these places, the mobile obstacle detachment (POZ) of the Ivanovo paratroopers was tasked to establish new minefields.

Russian sappers advanced to the specified area on two armoured personnel carriers-D, which are equipped with remote mining installations. Under enemy fire, the paratroopers reached the front line and set mine-explosive barriers, thereby securing the most vulnerable places of defence of the RF [Russian Federation’s] Armed Forces.

“Having mined a section of the area, the POZ personnel quickly departed for a safe area.”

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

Russian paratroopers use mine-explosive barriers to prevent Ukrainian forces from infiltrating their flanks in the war zone in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by Russian MoD on Monday, May, 22, 2023. (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 453rd day of the full-scale war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 22nd May 2023, Russia had lost about 203,880 personnel, 3,785 tanks, 7,407 armoured combat vehicles, 3,278 artillery units, 565 multiple launch rocket systems, 327 air defence systems, 309 warplanes, 294 helicopters, 2,830 drones, 1,011 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,129 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 427 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Moscow has claimed to have captured Bakhmut but Ukraine has said that its forces still have a foothold in the embattled eastern Ukrainian city and were attempting to encircle it.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the notorious Russian mercenary organisation Wagner, has posed with soldiers among the ruins and claimed to have control of the whole city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Prigozhin and Russia’s military forces on “the completion of the operation to liberate Artyomovsk”, which is the Soviet name for Bakhmut.

But Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking of the G7 summit in Japan, said on Sunday: “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today. There are no two or three interpretations of this.”

Russian paratroopers use mine-explosive barriers to prevent Ukrainian forces from infiltrating their flanks in the war zone in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by Russian MoD on Monday, May, 22, 2023. (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister, has said that Kyiv’s forces were still “holding the defence” in part of the city, adding: “Our forces have taken the city in a semi-encirclement, which gives us the opportunity to destroy the enemy.”

She also said: “The enemy has to defend himself in the part of the city he controls.”

Zelensky has secured new military aid from the United States while at the G7 summit in Japan, with US President Joe Biden telling Zelensky that the United States is doing everything possible to bolster the country’s defences.

Biden also said that he had assurances from Zelensky that he would not use F-16 fighter jets provided by the West to venture into Russian territory.

Biden added that F-16 fighter jets could however be used “wherever Russian troops are within Ukraine and the area.”

Speaking at the G7, Zelensky said that his plan to end Russia’s war in his country was “an obvious expression of rationality”.

He also thanked Western leaders for making it possible to achieve “a level of cooperation which ensures that democracy, international law, and freedom are respected.”