Russian military engineers from the engineering units of the Central Military District have begun demining roads and buildings in Avdiivka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Russia, according to RIA Novosti.
According to the ministry, engineers are surveying roads and adjacent areas. Separate groups of sappers are inspecting surviving houses, adjacent territories, and urban infrastructure objects for explosive objects.
The commander of the engineering platoon with the call sign “Usman” said that sappers have found Soviet-made mines, NATO weapons, and mine traps on the roads of Avdiivka.
The Ministry of Defense reported that over the past day, sappers have demined a bridge in the city, under which they found a laying of anti-tank mines and a charge of TNT with a remote detonator. In addition, more than 80 explosive objects and unexploded ordnance belonging to the Ukrainian troops were destroyed on the spot.
On February 17, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Sergey Shoigu, reported to the country’s president, Vladimir Putin, about the liberation of Avdiivka. The defense department noted that the captured settlement was a powerful defense hub for the Ukrainian army. Separate scattered units of the Ukrainian forces managed to leave the fortified area, leaving behind weapons and military equipment.
Earlier in the United States, the next target of Russia after Avdiivka was named.