December 2024, Kursk Region, Russia. Under constant threat from airstrikes and artillery fire, military engineers carry out missions that directly affect the welfare of both troops and civilians. Without their work, it would be impossible to either defend or advance. They build pontoon bridges across rivers, knowing each one might last less than an hour under enemy fire. They clear roads of mines, lay their own barriers to stop the enemy, and risk their lives disabling tripwires, cluster munitions, and unexploded ordnance.
These units rely not only on manual labor but also on advanced technology. FPV drones deliver mines deep into enemy territory with pinpoint accuracy, while mobile minelaying systems like the ‘Zemledeliye’ deploy dense minefields in minutes to block possible routes of attack.
Wartime heroes are usually seen as frontline assault troops, tank crews, and artillery units. But behind every successful operation are those who prepare the ground and deal with threats no one sees. This is the story of the people who clear the way, so others can fight and live on.
