Two Russian platoons trapped between deadly minefields – Ukrainian drones finish the job near Toretsk

 

             Two Russian platoons trapped near Toretsk. Photo:

Russian Assault in Donetsk Ends in Catastrophe Amid Ukrainian Minefield Ambush

A major Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine collapsed spectacularly this week after two armored platoons, lacking critical mine-clearing equipment, fell into a deadly Ukrainian trap west of Andriivka and north of Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast. The failed assault underscores Russia’s persistent logistical shortcomings and Ukraine’s lethal use of terrain and technology to stall advances, *Forbes* reports.

With no specialized vehicles to detect or clear mines, the Russian forces—comprising roughly 80 soldiers and a dozen armored vehicles—opted to traverse a narrow asphalt road, a predictable route that Ukrainian defenders had pre-targeted. “The invaders likely lacked vehicles equipped with minesweepers, forcing them to cluster on a single path,” Ukrainian military outlet *Militarnyi* noted. This decision proved fatal. As the column advanced, Ukrainian forces unleashed drones and cluster munitions, crippling the lead vehicle and trapping the entire group. Footage later showed Russian infantry fleeing their immobilized armor under relentless drone surveillance.

Minefields and Mismanagement

The incident highlights a grim reality: Ukraine is now the world’s most heavily mined country, surpassing Afghanistan and Syria, according to a November 2023 analysis by U.S. Army researchers Richard Garcia and Colin Colley. Ukrainian forces have weaponized this landscape, pre-mining suspected attack routes and coordinating artillery strikes to maximize chaos. “They anticipate Russian movement, lay fresh mines overnight, and synchronize fires to hit troops before they reach Ukrainian lines,” explained British defense analysts Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds in a Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) study.

The results were devastating for the Russian platoons. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed at least 18 soldiers killed, seven wounded, seven vehicles destroyed, and five damaged, with losses expected to climb. One platoon was reportedly “wiped out entirely.”

Broader Implications

The botched assault reflects Russia’s dwindling capacity to mount large, coordinated attacks after 38 months of war. “Few Russian regiments can still assemble a dozen armored vehicles and infantry for assaults,” observed *Forbes* defense writer David Axe, citing deepening personnel and equipment shortages. This failure also complicates Moscow’s efforts to counter Ukraine’s recent gains near Toretsk, where Kyiv’s forces have made incremental advances.

While both sides suffer heavy losses, Ukraine’s adaptive tactics—combining drones, precision artillery, and vast minefields—continue to offset Russia’s numerical advantages. The battle serves as a microcosm of the wider conflict: a grinding war of attrition where terrain, technology, and timing often determine outcomes more decisively than raw firepower. As Kyiv’s General Staff declared after the engagement, “The tally of the enemy’s losses continues!”—a stark reminder of the high price Russia pays for every kilometer of Ukrainian soil.