<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/13/ukraine-desperate-for-help-clearing-mines-says-defence-minister>
"Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country on Earth and its army is
suffering from a critical shortage of men and equipment able to clear the
frontlines, the country’s defence minister has said, as soldiers spoke of heavy
casualties in the engineering brigades.
In an urgent appeal to allies, Oleksii Reznikov told the Guardian his soldiers
were unearthing five mines for every square metre in places, laid by Russian
troops to try to thwart Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
He said the vast minefields could be traversed, but that it was critically
important that allies “expand and expedite” the training already being provided
by some nations, including Britain.
The number of sappers in the Ukrainian armed forces was nowhere near enough to
get through the complex Russian defences on the vast 600-mile (1,000km) front,
with mine clearing units targeted with heavy fire.
Defence ministry officials in Kyiv suggested there was an opportunity for
countries such as Japan that do not want to provide lethal aid to offer support
in the form of mine clearing equipment and training."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
