The Russian military advance against the Donetsk town of Vuhledar has stalled in part due to Ukraine's use of artillery-launched anti-armor cluster mines, the United Kingdom's Defense Ministry assessed in a Thursday morning intelligence update.
"One factor in Russia’s heavy losses in this sector has been Ukraine’s successful adoption of Remote Anti-Armor Mine systems (RAAM)."
UK Defense Ministry
"One factor in Russia’s heavy losses in this sector has been Ukraine’s successful adoption of Remote Anti-Armor Mine systems (RAAM)," explained the UK Defense Ministry. "RAAM is a specialist artillery shell which scatters anti-armor mines up to 17km away from the firing unit."
The UK Defense Ministry and other Western reports have indicated that the Ukrainians have often launched the mines over and behind advancing Russian forces. This causes casualties and disarray when Russian vehicles attempt to maneuver or retreat.
Since the war began, the US has supplied the Ukrainian military with over 10,000 155mm RAAM shells, a February 2023 Pentagon report said.
Russia competing with Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine
Russia's Defense Ministry has likely been pushing hard to conquer Vuhledar to compete with the Wagner private military company, the UK said.
"Russia’s only notable recent tactical success has been in the Bakhmut sector, which is dominated by Wagner Group mercenary forces, currently engaged in a public feud with the Russian Ministry of Defense," said the UK Defense Ministry.
In a Wednesday briefing, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley said that "Ukraine has fixed the Russian forces at that city and they're exacting very heavy costs on the Wagner Group and the Russian regular military."
"Ukraine has fixed the Russian forces at that city and they're exacting very heavy costs on the Wagner Group and the Russian regular military."
Mark Milley
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the efforts of the military on the Donestk region in a speech on Wednesday.
"As always, today I would like to commend our warriors who are delivering results in critical areas of the frontline. Of course, Bakhmut. Of course, Donetsk region in general," said Zelensky.