The Russian army continues to slowly but steadily gain ground in eastern Ukraine, and, according to the country’s own media, it would be in a little-known engineering system: Zemledeliye remote miners. These remotely controlled units allow minefields to be created in a matter of minutes, both in front of Russian positions and behind Ukrainian lines, which hinders supply, rotations, and enemy counterattacks.
The Russian newspaper Izvestia reported from the front that these teams have been decisive to consolidate the advances of Army Group Central in the Donetsk region. The Zemledeliye, used for the first time on a large scale during the Ukrainian counteroffensive of 2023, were that attempt at territorial recovery. Its ability to block roads and isolate positions made the Russian maneuver in a war of attrition favorable to Moscow.
These systems began to be incorporated into the Russian arsenal just before the start of the invasion, but it was not until the summer of 2023 when they demonstrated their potential. The extensive minefields they generated were an almost insurmountable wall for the Ukrainian armored vehicles. slowing their advance and exposing kyiv’s logistical vulnerabilities. Now, the same technology is used for offensive purposes, especially in the Pokrovsk axis, where Russian troops continue to gain ground, albeit at a high human cost.
“The equipment allows us to respond quickly to enemy counterattacks and block their resupply routes,” the senior lieutenant explained to the Russian media. Ivan Kravtsov, commander of a technical unit specializing in remote mine laying. According to the military, the devices can deploy both anti-tank and mixed mines and act in an almost automated manner, a significant improvement over traditional methods.
Among its innovations, digital precision stands out: each minefield is recorded on electronic maps, which facilitates its subsequent cleaning, and the mines include self-destruct mechanisms to avoid long-term risks. That automation has changed the way Russia views positional warfare and control of the territory.
Kravtsov, who participated in the initial formation of these units and collaborated with the system designers, ensures that the exchange of information between combat teams and engineers is constant. This feedback allows the technology to be adjusted according to the needs of the front. However, it also recognizes its weak point: the Ukrainian drones, which have already destroyed several mine-mining vehicles during the fighting.
With the war at a standstill in many sectors, the effectiveness of systems like the Zemledeliye has become one of the keys to the Russian advance. A tool that, although less visible than tanks or missiles, is reshaping the way Moscow wages its campaign in Ukraine.
