The Ministry of Defense formed ten engineering and sapper battalions

5 November, 2023 Sappers training during Rapid Trident 2020 exercise. Photo credits: ArmiyaInform The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has established ten additional engineer battalions to demine the territories.

Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, First Deputy Minister of Defense, announced this. Five engineer battalions were created as part of the Support Forces Command. Another five battalions and three mine clearance companies are part of the State Transport Special Service.

The total number of personnel of the newly formed battalions and companies does not exceed five thousand soldiers. The units have already started certification as mine clearance operators.

Illustrative photo of sapper training. Photo credits: ArmyInform

"The newly established units have already been staffed.

Currently, we are in the process of completing the acquisition of vehicles and special equipment. This is extremely important, as it is the technical capability that determines the quality and speed of the inspection and protects the personnel," Oleksandr Pavliuk said. It is reported that the use of mechanized demining increases the efficiency of work by 30%.

This is in addition to the 1,300 square kilometers of examined and cleared areas by the Ministry of Defense alone each year. As of today, 397 mine clearance teams of almost two thousand people are ready to perform their tasks. By December this year, the number of specialists will be increased to 4,300.

M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle.

Photo credits: Official website of the President of Ukraine

Militarnyi previously reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine received Ahlmann AS200 loaders. These vehicles are equipped with a chain device for demining. The armor of the vehicle protects against fragments of various types of ammunition.

In addition, M1150 mine- and explosives-clearing vehicles that are based on the Abrams M1 chassis were put into service.