Ukrainian civilians 'made to cross minefields to find safe path' by Russian army

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Land being checked in Ukraine for mines (Image: Getty Images)
Land being checked in Ukraine for mines (Image: Getty Images)

Local Ukrainian residents are being forced to walk through minefields by the Russian army to find safe routes, it is claimed.

Vast areas of Ukraine have now been covered with mines since the Russian invasion last year, with both sides accusing the other of placing them.

Up to 40% of the country is now booby trapped with mines, reportedly claimed Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

And Ukraine’s National Resistance Centre, formed by the country’s armed forces to inform civilian fighters, has warned how people are being used by Russian troops to check whether land is safe to cross.

It claimed it had happened in the Zaporizhzhya region and that it is now a fairly regular practice in the occupied territory.

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Ukrainian civilians 'made to cross minefields to find safe path' by Russian armyMany areas of Ukraine have now become minefields (Getty Images)

"According to information we have from our military, people are sent deliberately through mine barriers to identify possible options for passage through the area. Information about the routes is obtained thanks to the observation of the civilians. In this way, we can talk about another international crime of the enemy," the message from the Resistance Centre states.

It was also claimed that there have been cases where residents have managed to cross through to Ukrainian lines carrying messages with offers to negotiate and return dead bodies - but then later “refuse to negotiate”.

Meanwhile, earlier this week dramatic video footage emerged of a Russian tank being blown up as it drives straight over Ukrainian mine.

The army vehicle was destroyed by the hidden explosive near Donetsk after going down an empty road.

Images from satellites of Moscow's muscle show Putin is worried about Ukrainian counter strikes after new tanks were sent to Ukraine from Germany and US.

Ukrainian civilians 'made to cross minefields to find safe path' by Russian armyParamedics carry an injured Ukrainian serviceman who stepped on an anti-personnel land mine (AFP via Getty Images)

Brady Africk, an intelligence analyst has reported new fortifications in Luhansk, from the border with Russia down to Donetsk and in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

The video footage shows the Russian tank driving directly into a minefield while coming under fire from Ukrainian troops.

Affrick who is employed at American Enterprise Institute, told The Daily Beast: "They're trying to basically consolidate their gains and keep the parts that they've held on to thus far.

"I think it's definitely both a message to soldiers in Ukraine, and to everyone who might be watching, that they're going to at least try and stay."

The Russian armoured vehicle heads down an empty road believed to be near Donetsk as hundreds of shelling craters are seen.

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Footage shows one exploding around 20m ahead as the armoured vehicle moves forward.

It disappears behind smoke and drives over a mine triggering another explosion.

Seconds pass and another detonates and a fireball is seen taking over the tank forcing Russian soldiers to flee.

Taken from drone footage it shows four people running from the wreckage into fields filled with craters.

Tim Hanlon

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