Ukraine sets up 30 minefields on the northern border

13 July, 2023 Ukrainian soldier with TM-62M anti-tank mines. July 2023. Ukraine.

Photo credits: Serhii Nayev Recently, Ukrainian troops have significantly strengthened the northern border against the background of the news about the transfer of the Wagner PMC to Belarus. Serhii Naiev, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that they were given the task of making the border strip impassable for the enemy.

"We understand that we will not need the state borderline with our northern neighbors in a civilian form for a long time, since we have no friends on the other side of the border," Serhii Nayev said. In particular, during the last decade of the month, the military installed 30 anti-tank minefields and barriers using more than 5,800 mines. About 5,000 meters of trenches and 6,500 meters of anti-tank ditches were equipped along the border.

The Ukrainian military is engaged in building fortifications.

Northern border. July 2023. Ukraine.

Photo credits: Serhii Nayev

Additionally, 80 overhead cover slot, shelters and firing positions, as well as firing positions for heavy equipment, were built. "To prevent the penetration of enemy sabotage groups and the crossing of the border by armored vehicles, we have set up appropriate minefields," Serhii Nayev added. At the end of June, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, held a meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, at which he instructed the military to "strengthen the northern direction" due to the Wagner PMC being moved to Belarus.

"The decision provides for Commander-in-Chief General Zaluzhnyi and 'North' commander Lieutenant General Serhiy Naev to implement a set of measures to strengthen this direction," Zelensky said.

Ukrainian minefield. Northern border. July 2023.

Ukraine. Photo credits: Serhii Nayev

As previously reported, on July 11, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus confirmed that mercenaries of the Russian Wagner PMC would arrive in their country. The Belarusian authorities wanted the mercenaries from the Wagner PMC, who were to be sent to the country from Russia, to train Belarusian soldiers.

"After the arrival of mercenaries of the Wagner PMC and their deployment at training grounds for training and mutual exchange of experience, special attention is planned to be paid to the techniques and methods of conducting combat operations by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus," the Ministry stated.