Minefields and heavy shelling. Guards on offensive actions and demining of northern Donetsk region
Most of Yampol and all approaches to it are densely “seeded” with Russian anti-infantry mines. Military engineers played an important role in the operation to de-occupy this village in Donetsk region, which prevented large losses among Ukrainian defenders advancing in this direction.
Soket's task was to lead his group through the mined forest, clear the road, and return. All this happened under shelling, which, by the way, still does not subside.
“We arrive, disguise the equipment in the forest and wait for the “arrivals” to finish. Then we carefully walk a little further on foot, because there were Russian observation posts in the forest. Each fighter listened carefully to what was happening around, as soon as we passed to the end of the forest, we fixed ourselves on the border. Other sappers clear the way for machinery. After that, the storming of the settlement begins,” says “Soket”.
During the demining, they found the form of the Russian occupiers, their firing positions, their habitats, abandoned munitions, and recently left depots.
“It was clear: an hour ago, the Russians were still drinking tea here,” Kazbek says.
The group emerges from the forest to an open area wounded by heavy shelling. The trunks of the trees are burned down to the sand. Here, the military notices anti-personnel mines of the POM type. Apparently, deadly “gifts” were left during the retreat of the Rashists in Donetsk region. The discovered specimens belong to the mines of a new generation, which appeared in the arms of the Russians recently.
This is an extremely dangerous anti-infantry splinter mine POM-3 “Medallion”. It has a seismic target sensor, that is, it responds to the amplitude of steps. It will not explode from the walking or running of the animal, as was the case in Afghanistan, when the mujahideen ransacked Soviet minefields, driving out flocks of sheep.
The POM-3 is a smarter mine, and its sensor only works on the average person's weight and the amplitude of their steps.
“And it works from us. The group immediately looked at each other. Are they all alive or injured? As if everything is fine. I passed, inspected the area and we understand that it was all covered by P-3”, — shares “Socket”.
It became clear that it would not be possible to surreptitiously go this way without unjustified losses. One of the reasons is that it is impossible to deactivate such mines without an explosion, and the enemy was too close. Kazbek decides to return the group to the safe zone of the forest and look for new ways of approach. Soon it becomes clear that two of the group were wounded: Soketa is evacuated with a shard in the leg, Kazbek is wounded in the arm.
Today, Yampil is released. Sappers of the National Guard of Ukraine joined the process of demining this settlement.
“The village of Yampil is very affected. At the moment, it is even difficult to determine how many technicians and people need to be involved in order to restore it all. Almost all the houses were destroyed, burned down, the infrastructure was completely destroyed, all power grids and gas pipelines were destroyed. But first all this should be exchanged by sappers, because there is a very high level of mine pollution”, — shares “Soket”.
He is convinced that Russia, a terrorist state, must answer for all crimes committed, including the use of indiscriminate ammunition.
Soldiers of the National Guard take an active part in hostilities against the Russian occupiers at all borders and directions, where they are conducted together with the Armed Forces, Territorial Defense and other military formations. The enemy will be defeated!
National Guard of Ukraine
