Title: Russian Defensive Doctrine Slows Ukrainian Counteroffensive with Expanded Minefields
Date: June 14, 2023
In early June, as the Ukrainian counteroffensive gained momentum in southern Ukraine, Russian commanders made an adjustment to their defensive doctrine that impacted the Ukrainian operations. The depth of Russian defensive minefields was quadrupled from 120 meters to 500 meters, accompanied by increased mine density within the expanded fields. This strategic move has slowed the Ukrainian advance and led to unexpected challenges.
As Ukrainian forces advanced in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk Oblasts, they encountered minefields wider than anticipated and beyond the capacity of their standard mine-clearing equipment. The Ukrainians’ UR-77 explosive line-charge, which typically clears a 100-meter long lane, was insufficient against the wider minefields. This mismatch between the Russian mine doctrine and the Ukrainian mine-clearing doctrine has contributed to the slow progress of the counteroffensive.
Over a span of three months, Ukrainian brigades have managed to advance only around 10 miles along three main axes in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk. While progress has been made, it has been far slower than anticipated by some observers. Most recently, the Ukrainians liberated Robotyne, a key Russian stronghold on the road to occupied Melitopol, located 50 miles to the south.
However, the Russian decision to expand the minefields came with a downside. The increased demand for mines has depleted their resources, resulting in uneven minefields. The Ukrainians view this unevenness as an opportunity to exploit the Russian defenses.
Analysts Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds explained in a study for the Royal United Services Institute that the Russians adapted their minelaying tactics after the Ukrainian attack on Novodarivka and Rivnopil. The Russians concluded that overwhelming the Ukrainians’ mine-clearing efforts with a sufficient number of mines could significantly slow down their assault. Consequently, they aimed to increase the depth of minefields up to 500 meters, surpassing the Ukrainians’ rapid breaching capability.
The consequences of this adjustment were evident on June 8, when Ukrainian forces from the 47th and 33rd Brigades were caught in a minefield south of Mala Tokmachka. Unable to breach the minefield while on the move, the Ukrainians were forced to abandon two dozen of their best vehicles, including German-made Leopard 2A6 tanks, Leopard 2R mineclearers from Finland, and ex-American M-2 fighting vehicles. It took weeks before the Ukrainians found an alternative route to bypass the minefield and recover the abandoned vehicles.
As the counteroffensive pivoted toward Robotyne, the minefields presented significant challenges. The outermost Russian minefields were not only deeper but also denser. Additionally, the Russian logistics system faced difficulties in consistently replenishing the mines to meet the increased density required by the expanded fields.
According to Ukrainian brigadier general Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, the further south one travels from the front line, the thinner the minefields become. Russia allocated 60 percent of its time and resources to the first defensive line and only 20 percent for the second and third lines. Tarnavskiy suggests that the Russians underestimated the Ukrainians’ ability to breach their defenses.
This explains the intensification of the Russian efforts to prevent the Ukrainians from crossing the first line of minefields. In recent weeks, the Russians deployed their last operational reserves, such as the 76th Guards Air Assault Division, to Tokmak, just south of Robotyne. Once the Ukrainians break through the outermost mines, their advance could potentially become easier.
While progress has been relatively slow, the Ukrainian assault has recently accelerated. After liberating Robotyne, the Ukrainians swiftly advanced across the initial Russian fortifications southeast of the town. The situation continues to evolve as both sides adapt their strategies and respond to the challenges posed by the minefields.
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