1/ Russia will be using specialised engineering troops to carry out assaults with armoured vehicles, copying Ukraine's practice in the failed 2023 counter-offensive. They will most likely be used to attempt to break through Ukraine's layered defences along the front lines. 
2/ The Russian newspaper Izvestia reports that the Russian Ministry of Defence has "approved a programme to increase the combat capabilities of combined arms engineering regiments and brigades." They will be equipped with specialised vehicles.
3/ Notably, this will include the universal armored engineering vehicle (UBIM), built on a T-90 tank chassis, and new reconnaissance vehicles that are currently being tested. They are said to be "highly autonomous" and capable of detecting mines, bunkers and other obstacles.
4/ The UBIM is already in service. It accomodates two crew members and three sappers, and includes in its equipment a hydraulic hammer to destroy concrete and a traction winch to remove damaged equipment. It can operate in darkness with the aid of night vision equipment.
5/ Izvestia explains the background to the expansion of the engineering troops' role: "The defences were particularly strong in Donbas, where they had been built over eight years. This required Russian troops to adapt to the new conditions and change tactics.
6/ "Specialised assault units equipped with weapons and equipment to break through enemy defences began to be formed. Since last year, the military department has decided to scale up this experience and create reconnaissance and assault brigades in combined arms armies."
7/ Engineering units had previously been limited to constructing fortifications, clearing routes for troops and building bridges. However, they are now being "transformed into an independent strike force" capable of storming fortified areas, covert mining and rapid demining.
8/ Since last year, they have been equipped with Zemledeliye ("Agriculture") remote mining systems based on the KaMAZ truck chassis. They fire up to 25 122mm rockets filled with mines, with ranges of 5 to 15 km, that allow the creation of instant minefields.
9/ According to Izvestia, "In all brigades of district and naval subordination, battalions of combat engineers and stormtroopers are being created, and engineering regiments in the armies are replenished with the same companies."
10/ Such tasks had previously been carried out – often at a huge cost in lives – by non-specialised troops in 'Storm Z' assault units. According to analyst Kirill Mikhailov of the Conflict Intelligence Team, Russia had previously ignored Ukraine's use of engineering vehicles.
11/ During the counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, the Ukrainian armed forces used Wisent 1 MC breaching vehicles (based on the Leopard 2 chassis) to clear minefields. They successfully cleared paths for tanks, but proved vulnerable to artillery, drones and anti-tank weapons.
12/ Ukraine's fortified defences have thwarted Russian advances in places such as Avdiivka and have been expanded across the main sectors of the front. Over 1,000 km of fortified lines have reportedly been constructed by Ukraine since late November 2023.
13/ Russia needs to breach these defences if it is to advance any deeper into Ukraine. As its armoured engineering vehicles will face the same vulnerabilities as Ukraine's, it will be hoping that the US Republican blockade of aid will make it harder for Ukraine to counter them.
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