Ukraine Says Drones Laid a Minefield in 2 Nights, Cutting a 2-Week Job

Ukraine’s Third Army Corps said it used aerial and ground drones to lay a minefield roughly a quarter-mile deep in Donetsk. The corps said the drones took two nights to deploy mines in a task that “would take humans about two weeks.” According to its Telegram statement cited by Business Insider, the effort covered about 400 meters, or 1,312 feet, during Operation Vivaldi.

The reported mine-laying took place during a recent offensive near Lyman, where the Third Army Corps said last week it seized roughly 50 square miles of territory. A map posted by the corps indicated the mines were laid near Shandryholove, a contested village about six miles northwest of Lyman. Few details about Operation Vivaldi are publicly known, making the corps’ claims a notable glimpse into how drones are being used around active front lines.

The corps said the technologies enabled “rapid mining of enemy movement routes and disruption of their logistics.” That framing points to a key advantage of uncrewed systems: they can carry out dangerous tasks while reducing direct exposure for troops. Business Insider noted Ukraine has increasingly used ground drones to carry supplies, scout front lines, and attack Russian positions in areas considered dangerous for human soldiers.

Animated videos released with the announcement showed a hexacopter heavy bomber drone carrying a mine and a TerMIT tracked modular uncrewed ground vehicle. Business Insider reported it is unclear whether those were the specific drone types used in the mine-laying operation. The Third Army Corps did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment sent outside daylight hours in Ukraine.