Metinvest’s Advanced Mine Trawls: Key to Safe Military Operations in Ukraine
Amid the devastating conflict in Ukraine, landmines have become one of the most significant threats to both military personnel and civilians. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, the country is the most heavily mined in the world, with an estimated 138,500 square meters of territory contaminated by explosive ordnance as of the end of 2024. These mines pose a grave danger to military forces, impede humanitarian efforts, and severely disrupt civilian life. Addressing this urgent issue requires not only substantial financial resources but also specialized, high-performance equipment capable of neutralizing these deadly traps.
In response to this dire need, Metinvest Group has stepped in to support Ukraine's defense forces through the production of mine trawls. The company’s Steel Front initiative, launched in the summer of 2023, aims to produce these vital tools to help Ukrainian soldiers safely clear mined territories. Metinvest’s mine trawls are designed to be mounted on tanks and other military vehicles, enabling them to safely neutralize anti-tank and anti-personnel mines as the vehicles move through contaminated zones. These devices are a critical component of counteroffensive operations, directly saving lives and ensuring the safe passage of military units through hazardous areas.
How Mine Trawls Work and Their Importance in Combat
A mine trawl is a specialized demining device consisting of heavy metal rollers that are attached to the front of military vehicles, such as tanks. As the vehicle moves forward, the rollers press down on the ground, applying enough force to trigger any mines hidden in the soil. By detonating mines beneath the trawl, the device prevents explosions from affecting the vehicle or its crew. This action provides a safer route for infantry and military equipment to follow, mitigating the risk of casualties and damage.
Metinvest’s mine trawls are robust, with each set weighing up to 6.5 metric tons, and they cover an area of 3.77 x 3.44 meters. As the vehicle equipped with the trawl moves, the rollers rotate, ensuring that any mines in the path are triggered safely. Notably, each set of trawls is capable of withstanding 8–10 detonations, ensuring durability even in challenging operational environments.
Although there are various types of mine-clearing devices used in military practice, such as plough-like trawls, the primary aim remains the same: to clear a path through mined areas and protect personnel and equipment from harm. Metinvest’s heavy-duty, advanced mine trawls are engineered to ensure the most effective and reliable mine-clearing operation possible.
Metinvest’s Innovation: Improving Soviet-Era Mine-Clearing Technology
Metinvest’s mine trawls were developed based on the Soviet-era KMT-7 roller mine trawl, a widely used design in demining operations. While the KMT-7 was already an effective tool, Metinvest’s engineers worked closely with the Ukrainian military to improve its design and functionality for modern combat scenarios. The goal was to create a trawl that could be more easily deployed on the front lines while increasing efficiency and performance.
Key improvements included the development of a mechanical discharge system that allowed for quicker and more efficient attachment and detachment of the trawl from the military vehicle. This system can optionally be automated to streamline the process further. Additionally, Metinvest’s specialists designed universal adapters that enable the mine trawls to be attached to a wide variety of combat vehicles, including those that were not originally equipped with the necessary mounts for this kind of equipment.
This adaptability is crucial for the Ukrainian military, as it enables them to use the mine trawls on a broader range of vehicles, optimizing their demining capabilities across various operations.
Efficient Production and Distribution of Mine Trawls
Since the production of Metinvest’s mine trawls began, more than 30 sets have been manufactured and sent directly to the front lines. The company has managed to produce up to five trawls per month, which meets the current demand of the Ukrainian military. While each set of trawls costs around UAH 2.5 million, Metinvest has committed to providing them free of charge to the Ukrainian defense forces. This act of support underscores the company’s dedication to ensuring the safety of Ukraine’s soldiers and the success of military operations.
Metinvest has also taken steps to ensure the quick repair and maintenance of its mine trawls in the field. To facilitate prompt repairs, the company produces spare parts, including replacement wheels, which endure the most stress during demining operations. These wheels are a critical part of the trawl’s function, and their replacement ensures that the devices remain operational in the field.
Additional Contributions to Ukraine’s Demining Efforts
In addition to producing mine trawls, Metinvest is actively involved in supporting other aspects of Ukraine’s demining efforts, including training specialists, known as sappers, who conduct humanitarian demining in areas that have been de-occupied by Russian forces. Since the autumn of 2023, Metinvest has been working to establish the necessary infrastructure to train these specialists, ensuring that they can safely clear explosive ordnance and help restore peace in affected regions.
One such project is the construction of a Mine Action Centre in Chernihiv, a region heavily impacted by the conflict. Metinvest invested UAH 9.5 million to build a permanent administrative building for the center, which will train over 3,000 specialists in the art of demining. The center will also play a role in certifying mine action operators, inspecting demined areas, and raising public awareness about the dangers of unexploded ordnance. Through this initiative, Metinvest is helping to ensure that sappers are properly trained and equipped to safely clear mined territories, ultimately supporting the return to civilian life in liberated regions.
Metinvest’s Role in Modern Mine-Clearing Technology
Mine-clearing technology has come a long way since the 1960s when intensive development of trawls took place under the Soviet design bureau SKB-200. These early designs aimed to replace outdated mine-clearing tools, and significant advancements were made to accommodate newer tank models, improve reliability, and enhance effectiveness.
The most successful of these early designs was the KMT-7, which became the standard mine-clearing device for the Soviet army. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the KMT-7 continued to be used in various countries. However, as new types of mines emerged on the battlefield, the need for further innovation became clear.
Metinvest’s mine-clearing trawls are a modern evolution of these earlier designs, incorporating modularity and greater versatility. This approach allows for rapid adaptation to changing mine types and battlefield conditions, ensuring the trawls can effectively handle a variety of threats.
By building on decades of technological evolution, Metinvest’s mine trawls offer a reliable, versatile, and powerful solution to the challenges posed by landmines, and they are playing a pivotal role in Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Supporting Sappers and Humanitarian Demining
Beyond military support, Metinvest is also playing a crucial role in humanitarian demining efforts. By establishing a Mine Action Centre and supporting sappers in their training and operations, Metinvest is helping ensure that Ukraine can safely rebuild and restore normalcy in de-occupied territories.
As Ukraine continues to recover from the ravages of war, the need for effective and skilled demining personnel becomes ever more critical. Through its ongoing investments, Metinvest is contributing to the long-term safety of Ukrainian citizens and the eventual return to peace and stability.
Metinvest’s work in mine-clearing trawls and training sappers is a critical aspect of Ukraine’s demining efforts. By combining advanced technology with a deep commitment to humanitarian causes, Metinvest is not only protecting the lives of soldiers on the front lines but also helping ensure the safety and recovery of communities affected by the conflict.
