The Ukrainian military has struggled to work through Russia’s heavily mined defensive lines as its counteroffensive has dragged on for ten weeks with little to show. Kyiv is now appealing to its allies for more demining equipment. Ukrainians assigned to be deminers – known as sappers have taken heavy losses in the counter offensive.
Speaking with the Guardian, Oleksandr Slyusar, a Ukrainian sapper, said his deminers have suffered significant casualties, and he had to take painkillers just to keep fighting. “On paper, our brigade has 30 sappers. In reality, it is 13. As for those who are active at the moment, it is five.” He added,” I inject myself with a painkiller every day.”