Ukraine slows Russian assaults with adoption of remote anti-armour mines, UK says

Ukrainian forces have successfully slowed Russian advances by adopting the use of remote anti-armour mines, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) have said.

In the latest defence update on Twitter, the MOD said Ukraine's adoption of Remote Anti-Armour Mine systems (RAAM) have contributed to heavy Russian losses.

"Over the last week, Russian attempts to assault the Donetsk Oblast town of Vuhledar have almost certainly slowed," the MOD said.

• Ukraine: Russia facing a 'dilemma' over failed assaults in Vuhledar
• Russia's richest cities suffer the fewest deaths as a result of Ukraine war, MOD says
• Analysis: Russian pilot 'lucky to be alive' after MQ-9 Reaper drone collision

"This follows repeated, extremely costly failed attacks over the previous three months.

"One factor in Russia's heavy losses in this sector has been Ukraine's successful adoption of Remote Anti-Armour Mine systems (RAAM)."

The update explains the RAAM system is "a specialist artillery shell which scatters anti-armour mines up to 17km away from the firing unit".

"In some instances, Ukraine has launched the mines over and behind advancing Russian units, causing disarray when Russian vehicles attempt to withdraw," the MOD 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 Defence.

"There is a realistic possibility that Russia's MOD has been insistent in its drive for success in Vuhledar, partially because it wants its own success to compete with Wagner's achievements."

The feud between the Russian MOD and Wagner Group was part of a former defence update. 

The MOD previously said there were reports of a deepening rift between the head of the Wagner Group and Russia's defence ministry over claims the mercenary force is lacking the ammunition and reinforcements it needs to win the months-long battle for Ukraine's Bakhmut.

The MOD also said a visit by Russia's defence minister came after Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group, visited frontline troops, and added Sergei Shoigu’s visit was "partially in response to recent footage of" Mr Prigozhin's visit.

"Wagner is in a high-profile dispute with the Russian Ministry of Defence and Shoigu is likely sensitive to being compared to Prigozhin," the update said.