Преузмите цео чланак у ПДФ формату
The Battle for Mariupol was one of the most intense and significant engagements to date in the Russian–Ukrainian armed conflict. Its course and outcome were significantly shaped by the activities of engineering units on both sides. Ukrainian forces, through the execution of tasks within the scope of engineering and counter-engineering operations, provided support to complex defensive tactical actions. Prominent examples include the emplacement of artificial obstacles, with minefields having particularly extensive application, as well as the fortification of natural and artificial features, notably the adaptation of existing industrial facilities such as the Azovstal industrial complex. Russian forces applied a modified siege tactic by destroying infrastructure and, through the execution of tasks related to obstruction, constructing various obstacles to prevent maneuver and supply. In order to support maneuver and achieve the tempo of the offensive of their own forces, they employed engineering units in tasks related to overcoming obstacles, while not omitting the execution of fortification tasks under newly emerged conditions. The aim of examining these activities was to assess their effects on the conduct of the military operation, as well as the subsequent consequences for the civilian population. The paper presents the results of the research through the analysis of available open sources and their comparison with prior knowledge of the doctrinal application of engineering units in contemporary warfare in the states concerned (analyzed through the lens of the doctrine governing the employment of engineering units of the Serbian Armed Forces), positive solutions for one’s own forces and the consequences imposed on the adversary, as well as the humanitarian consequences of this battle for the civilian population. This paper seeks, through analysis, to examine the roles of engineering units in the Battle for Mariupol, with an emphasis on their importance in the creation and destruction of defensive structures, the use of infrastructure, and the possibilities for improving the tactics of employing engineering units that influenced the outcome of the battle. In addition, attention is directed toward examining the impact of modern weapons systems and combat systems on the conduct of operations and the achievement of objectives.