Ukrainian drones and mines stall Russian advance in Kursk region
The Russians are persisting in their efforts to reclaim the part of the Kursk region occupied by Ukrainian forces, but they are facing significant losses. The main challenges they encounter are mines and FPV drones, which the Ukrainians effectively utilize.
The Russian military is attempting to drive the Ukrainians out of the occupied territory in the Kursk region using naval and airborne infantry units. Although the Russians have managed to regain a significant area, these gains have come with substantial losses. According to reports from sources including a foreign volunteer with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, these losses are primarily due to mines and drones.
Below is an example of a Ukrainian military unit destroying a group of vehicles from the Russian 104th Air Assault Guards Regiment. They successfully targeted 4 out of 5 BMD family infantry fighting vehicles, a T-72B3 tank, and three off-road vehicles.
FPV drones and scatterable mines — an effective barrier against Russian forces
FPV drones and heavier bombing "Baba Yaga" drones are crucial components of Ukrainian defence, especially during shortages of anti-tank guided missiles with a range of over 3 kilometres. Combined with scatterable mines or minefields deployed using dedicated systems or multiple rocket launchers, these create deadly traps for Russian armoured equipment.
Such minefields can be laid more than 10 kilometres from Ukrainian positions. The terrain offers a strategic advantage to the Ukrainians, as it limits the Russian forces to a few available roads. A commonly used anti-tank scatterable mine in Ukraine is the PTM-3, which is rectangular and weighs about 5 kilograms, with approximately 2 kilograms of explosive material. While this mine won't destroy a tank, it can immobilize it.
FPV drones can carry PG-7VL grenades capable of penetrating up to 50 centimetres of armoured steel or weaker bomblets from cluster munitions. They can also carry handheld anti-tank grenades or attachment-type PGN grenades. Although not enough to destroy a tank, these drones are effective against the thin armour of BMD family infantry fighting vehicles.
Bombing drones, on the other hand, can drop mortar shells. There are also models equipped with missiles guided by reflected laser beams. In addition, "Baba Yaga" drones or their night-time counterparts, "Vampire," are used to lay traditional TM-62 anti-tank mines.
