AFU’s engineers massively mined the approaches to the defensive lines of Kharkiv, - General Staff

AFU’s engineers massively mined the approaches to the defensive lines of Kharkiv, - General Staff

The Ukrainian Armed Forces support forces were engaged in engineering fortification work on fortification lines before the Russian offensive on Kharkiv. Among other things, they planted tens of thousands of mines in the Kharkiv region to hinder the advance of Russian troops. The press service of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces spoke about the work of the Support Forces engineers in a post on the Facebook page.

Russian offensive on Kharkiv and defence line

The Ukrainian command claims that sappers of the Support Forces worked to protect the Kharkiv region. In particular, in the first months of 2024, tens of thousands of mines were installed on the approaches to the defensive lines of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The note also listed what else the Support Forces are doing:

• construction of fortifications;
• installation of barriers - mine-explosive and non-explosive.

Russian offensive on Kharkiv - General Staff about mines, message on May 14

Photo: Screenshot

The press service of the General Staff also published several photographs that illustrate the work of the Support Forces sappers. One photo shows a fighter carefully placing an explosive device in the ground.

On the other two - preparing the mine for work and covering it with earth. Where exactly the footage of the sappers’ work was taken—in the Kharkiv region or on another part of the front—is not indicated.

Russian offensive on Kharkiv - a sapper buries a mine in front of the defensive lines

 

Meanwhile, the day before, on May 13, the commander of the Support Forces, Major General Dmytro Hereha, spoke about the construction of a line of fortifications. He noted that it is difficult for engineers to work on the front line, being under the threat of Russian shelling. However, they work and for construction they use wooden beams (easy to install and replace, less debris when hit) and concrete structures (for strong points and firing points). There is also special anti-drone protection, the commander explained on the Army Inform portal.