Video presumably from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine shows an attempted casualty recovery operation by what is reported to be the 47th Assault Brigade. Multiple western-provided armor vehicles are present, including Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV). Ukrainian personnel in Bradley’s attempt to navigate known pathways between mines to recover casualties that had taken refuge away from the vehicles. During recovery attempts, multiple recovery personnel hit additional mines, resulting in what I would describe as one of the clearest depictions of a mass-casualty event we’ve seen on camera.

The concern of the personnel on the ground is apparent at the onset of the video; as Ukrainians attempt to find their way to the relative safety of the Bradley’s, multiple hit additional presumed anti-personnel mines and themselves become casualties. This continues to take place throughout the video until the very end, with a Ukrainian jumping from the Bradley’s ramp onto what appears to be a clear patch of dirt. The last Ukrainian filmed in the video appeared to be returning to the area to recover more of his comrades, and that clear patch of dirt turned out to hold an additional mine. The Ukrainian retains the mental resilience to apply a tourniquet to his now-mostly-amputated leg, before dragging himself back onto the Bradley.

Although its unclear when and exactly where this was filmed as the GEO-location folks haven’t yet picked it up, the area and imagery is reminiscent of failed Ukrainian assaults from a few weeks ago, where Ukrainians in force hammered against heavily mined and fortified positions along the forward line in Zaporizhzhia. There’s at least some possibility that it’s the same assault location at a minimum, but to be fully transparent I haven’t dug that deep.

The 47th Assault Brigade is known to have received at least the lion’s share of western equipment, some of which is on display here. It’s unclear if that equipment was hit by artillery, hit mines, or a combination of both as with the preciously mentioned assault. The assault that continues to be shared on social media as a gauge or compass related to the overall success of Ukraine's counteroffensive operation. Like I’ve previously mentioned, though, these videos are imperfect lenses into a much larger operational picture. Each individual clip is a mere 500m-squared depiction of what’s happening in time and space at that one location.

Ultimately, and thinking about the lasting effects of war, this video is an overly-graphical depiction of what’s in-store for Ukraine even AFTER this war is over (alongside the challenges they're facing now). The humanitarian effort of clearing out the amount of mines that have been used to-date will take decades. The rebuilding process of the cities, flattened by continuous artillery and missile strikes, will be finished long before the mines are all gone. There is plenty of footage of Ukraine clearing paths using traditional and doctrinal breaching/mine-clearing procedures. There are just so many.

They couldn’t make it two steps without hitting one. Imagine trying to find them all.

If you guys find things out in the wild that you think are relevant for archival here, tag us on socials; I'm @RonnieAdkins_ on Instagram and Twitter..

About the Author

Ronnie Adkins

Ronnie is a US Army Intelligence and Information Operations veteran. He deployed twice to Afghanistan, first as a driver, and second with the 75th Ranger Regiment as an Information Operations Chief. Ronnie is a full-time content creator on the Funker530 platform, as well as his own YouTube channel. Follow Ronnie's work at RonnieAdkins.com