Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have extensively deployed landmines and explosive obstacles across eastern frontlines, creating mine-warfare dimensions affecting military operations and post-war recovery. Minefields channel attacking forces into predetermined zones where defensive fires can engage effectively, slow offensive operations requiring time-consuming mine-clearing, and inflict casualties on personnel and equipment attempting to cross contaminated areas. The defensive advantages mines provide make them attractive despite long-term humanitarian and economic costs they create.
Ukrainian forces have employed mines defensively to impede Russian advances and protect defensive positions from being easily overrun. The mine barriers buy time for defenders to engage attacking forces and create casualties forcing Russians to commit engineer resources to clearing operations. However, extensive mine deployment creates challenges for potential Ukrainian counter-offensives requiring their own forces to traverse minefields during any future offensive operations attempting to reclaim lost territories.
Russian forces similarly employ mines both for defensive purposes and offensively to impede Ukrainian movement and logistics. The extensive Russian mining has contaminated vast areas of eastern Ukraine with explosive hazards that will require years of clearance operations before land becomes safe for civilian use. Agricultural regions affected by mining face particular challenges as farmland contamination prevents cultivation and creates dangers for rural populations living amid explosive hazards.
International humanitarian law permits mine use against military objectives but requires parties to record minefield locations enabling post-war clearance and protect civilians from indiscriminate explosive hazards. However, combat conditions often prevent adequate recording, while intentional unmarked mine deployment creates deliberate long-term hazards. The resulting mine contamination will affect Ukrainian recovery for decades regardless of conflict conclusion, requiring extensive international assistance for clearance operations.
Thursday’s coalition video conference should address mine warfare dimensions and post-war clearance requirements. President Zelenskyy’s revised peace framework presumably emphasizes that peace agreements must include commitments for mine clearance assistance and documentation of mined areas. As both sides continue extensive mine deployment for immediate military purposes, the long-term humanitarian and economic consequences accumulate regardless of peace terms, creating post-war challenges requiring sustained international engagement extending well beyond conflict conclusion.