How Wartime Tech is Revolutionizing Demining in Ukraine

According to the 56th Mariupol Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military engineers are now producing landmines and remote-mining charges from deep underground container workshops, allowing operators to secure territory from dozens of kilometers away from the front line.

## Underground Production of Remote-Mining Charges

Soldiers within the Ukrainian Armed Forces are manufacturing defensive munitions entirely from scratch to limit frontline exposure. According to Viktor, a soldier from the 56th Mariupol Motorized Infantry Brigade, the underground workshops fabricate charges designed to halt enemy advances without requiring infantrymen to place them on foot.

“What are we doing exactly? We are producing charges for remote-mining from scratch ourselves, and why? So that our guys don’t have to walk, risk their lives, to mine territories to stop the occupiers,” Viktor stated.

The brigade produces shrapnel mines, which Viktor identifies as the most requested and effective tool for stopping opposing forces.

## Technological Shifts in Frontline Mining Operations

Operations have evolved past basic remote-controlled equipment as units integrate advanced networking tools. According to Viktor, operators transitioned by 2026 from standard radio-controlled units to systems running on Starlink connections.

“We convert them, reprogram them, and essentially this drone can carry out its tasks from anywhere in the world,” Viktor noted.

By operating from 50 to 60 kilometers away from the contact line, engineers work from deep bunkers far behind the front. Soldiers note that increased distance directly improves operational safety, giving personnel a higher probability of continuing their duties the following day.

## Personal Stakes and Frontline Resilience

Many members of the brigade originate from territories currently occupied or targeted by Russian forces, which have concentrated more than 260,000 troops along the Donbas front. Viktor, who hails from the Luhansk region, has served since 2014, with his hometown under occupation since 2023.

“It’s not just me here from Luhansk, many of our guys are from the Donetsk region, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, but everyone has one goal, we have a goal to defend ourselves,” Viktor said.

The unit continues its work through integrated teamwork, which includes personnel such as Vasils. Vasils lost a leg near Chasiv Yar in 2024 and spent over a year in hospitals and rehabilitation before returning to service with a prosthesis.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do engineers deploy mines from a distance?
According to the 56th Mariupol Motorized Infantry Brigade, engineers use reprogrammed drones and remote-mining charges operated from fortified underground positions 50 to 60 kilometers away from the front line.

### What types of munitions are produced underground?
The brigade manufactures shrapnel mines and other restrictive gear designed to limit enemy movement and safeguard infantry personnel.

### Are injured soldiers returning to service in the brigade?
Yes. According to brigade accounts, personnel such as Vasils have returned to active service with prostheses following extensive medical rehabilitation.