Russian forces suffered a severe setback this week after falling into what Ukrainian officials have described as a “bloody ambush” near the village of Andreyevka. The incident, which highlights ongoing equipment shortages within Russian units, marks another failed attempt to push forward in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian assault team involved was reportedly equipped with armoured vehicles but lacked essential mine-clearing equipment. This absence led the troops to avoid mined fields and instead advance in a tight formation along a predictable asphalt road. This tactic exposed them to pre-planned Ukrainian drone strikes and artillery using cluster munitions. According to Ukraine’s General Staff, the assault group was composed of roughly two platoons of soldiers and vehicles. Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed that at least one platoon was destroyed during the ambush.
The losses were considerable. The following table summarises the damage reported by Ukrainian sources:
| Destroyed or Damaged Russian Assets | Estimated Quantity |
|---|---|
| Destroyed vehicles | 7 |
| Damaged vehicles | 5 |
| Russian soldiers killed | 18 |
| Russian soldiers wounded | 7 |
The incident near Andreyevka is part of a wider Ukrainian counterattack in the area around Toretsk. Russian commanders are currently focused on halting these advances, but the lack of vital support equipment, including mine-clearing tools, continues to severely hamper their efforts.
Forbes defence analyst David Axe has pointed out that an assault team properly supported with mine-clearing tools could push through a minefield with some degree of success. But without that capacity, Russian forces are forced into more predictable movements—routes that Ukrainian forces are now adept at mining and ambushing.
According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, Ukrainian troops use intelligence to predict the most likely paths of Russian assaults. Each day, they plant anti-personnel and anti-tank mines along these routes, and they prepare fire positions to strike Russian units before they even reach Ukrainian lines.
Ukraine, according to a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command report, has now surpassed Syria and Afghanistan to become the most mined country in the world. During the summer of 2023, Russian minefields were one of the major reasons for the slowdown of Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Now, it is Russian troops who are being stopped in their tracks by Ukrainian mines.
As Russia attempts to prepare for what some analysts describe as a coming major offensive, it is clear the Kremlin is facing a military deeply constrained by logistical gaps and high attrition. Reports from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicate that Russian troops are currently trying to solidify positions northeast of Liman. This may be in preparation for operations aimed at capturing Borovaya and Liman in the coming months.
However, Ukrainian experts remain sceptical about the scale of such an operation. Major General Sergei Krivonos, a reserve officer in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has stated that Russia lacks sufficient strength to mount a full-front offensive. He suggests that Moscow will instead test defences through more limited actions by mid-April.
While Russian state media and some military analysts attempt to portray momentum on their side, the reality on the battlefield continues to tell a different story—one of staggering losses, insufficient preparation, and growing Ukrainian resistance backed by smart tactical planning.
