So after the team helped extract the tank from the minefield, myself
@SM_EOD
and
@MontyEOD2336
began to sweep the area for more mines.
In all we located 300+ TM-62P3 (plastic) anti-tank mines which were laid out over a 1km.
We were able to remote remove 50 mines today.
Today the
@OfficialSOLI
EOD team continued to clear the minefield that was located when a tank hit a mine.
Removing these mines include careful excavation to expose the fuze and the main body of the mine.
Once this is complete we then need to remote pull from its position.
We were on our way to Kharkiv when literally in the adjacent field an armoured vehicle struck an anti-tank mine.
So we stopped, put on our gear and went to help. Luckily the crew were ok but we had just entered a huge Russian minefield.
Myself,
@SM_EOD
and
@MontyEOD2336
pulled the final mine this morning.......it's been an emotional ride from start to finish.
Big thanks to all those that support us and to the generosity and friendship from the local farming community...
A picture I am quite proud of. This was taken after myself,
@SM_EOD
and
@MontyEOD2336
had just removed 296 TM-62P3 anti-tank mines from an agricultural field.
Thanks to
@tipofthespear42
for the donation of the
@CEAI
detector and Monty for letting me use his famous EOD knife.
Sometimes the team go above and beyond to help others. Here my colleague
@MontyEOD2336
is removing a mine that is located directly under the tank that struck a mine.
The tank could not be moved until this was done, so
@MontyEOD2336
selfishly volunteered to do the job.
People ask me why I do what I do....I have 2 beautiful daughters and 2 gorgeous grandchildren....I could not imagine them walking in an environment where every step could maime or kill them....that is my motivation โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
Me
@SM_EOD
and
@MontyEOD2336
conducted route surveys of farmland tracks today.... sometimes it is a necessity to burn the scrubland (with the farmers permission) to assist us in searching for Explosive Ordnance...
Me and the boys with one of the farm owners who come down everyday with food and water โค๏ธ. They have made us feel part of their community inviting us into their homes.....we feel blessed โบ๏ธ
One of my last meals in Kharkiv..... traditional Ukrainian food dish (absolutely delicious) and washed down with some good moonshine....๐คช๐ฅ
Looking forward to returning as soon as possible...๐
The locating, rendering safe and removing of an F1 Russian grenade which had been set up as a booby trap.....another hazard the local farmers do not have to worry about....
Helping the local community makes us feel part of a family.
Here we helped conduct a sweep of a local cemetery to ensure local residents could visit their loved ones without fear.
f you would like to support our mission please donate to link below:
Removing fuzes from anti-tank mines is not recommended due to the threat if booby-traps in the fuze well.
There are ways we can do this remotely, however we are unable to show these as we do not want encourage anyone without the proper training and experience to attempt these
Today the team conducted a controlled demolition (filmed using my drone) of our explosive ordnance that we have found over the last few weeks.
These have now been taken out of harm's way for the local community who can concentrate on rebuilding their lives.
Today the team conducted a survey of a farmers field to assess the level of contamination present.
During the survey we located a live OZM-72 bounding fragmentation mine, 220mm and 300mm rocket nose and sub-munition cassettes and a TM-62P3 anti-tank mine.
I'm not a fan of working in enclosed spaces, but sometimes it's a necessity to get the job done.
Here
@MontyEOD2336
crawled under a tank that had strayed into a minefield to help remove a mine before it could be extracted.
Packed and ready to deploy on Sunday ๐.
Looking forward to getting back to where the team left off and removing as many Unexploded Ordnance as humanly possible.
Follow our journey and if you can support us please click on the link below:
Working closely with the Ukrainian EOD Police, we were able to destroy another OZM-72 anti-personnel mine before it was able to claim another innocent life...
If you would like to support our mission please donate to the link below..โค๏ธ
Using the DJI Mini 3 Pro to help locate explosive ordnance in the large agricultural fields in Kharkiv has been invaluable.
It allows the team to cover large areas in a short time while reducing the risk for the team.
Today the team headed out with DSNS to help isolated villages that have no running water or electricity. It is vital that the local infrastructure is cleared of explosion munitions for the village to return to some kind of normality.
It was an emotional day today as we had to say goodbye to our K9 buddies and head to Kyiv as the
@OfficialSOLI
demining project comes to an end.
However, it won't be long before we are reunited again and back to clearing the agricultural fields of danger....watch this space ๐
Today the team has returned to the location from yesterday. And whilst conducting a sweep came across a booby trap.
This consisted of a wooden stake which a line ran from to a F1 Grenade across a path a farmer could have potentially used.
Whenever we find F1 Grenades used as booby-traps, we have to assume the fuze has been modified to explode instantly the safety pin has been removed.
The videos shows the team test firing the fuze showing the pyrotechnic delay followed by the detonator 3-4 seconds later...normal
Another OZM-72 bounding fragmentation mine removed from a farmers field.
The team continue to support the Kharkiv farming community by removing as much explosive ordnance as possible.
Me
@SM_EOD
and
@MontyEOD2336
are big softies at heart.
We allow the local K9 residents into our operations room when they get wet and cold from the rain.
They get a warm bed,some food and a decent night's sleep.
Today the team was able to help the local village in removing a 122mm Grad rocket that had landed in a nearby wood.
Once
@SM_EOD
and
@MontyEOD2336
were able to access the base of the rocket and confirm its status, it was then pulled out if the ground with the help of a tow rope.
Watching this film if the teams activities in the last 12 months brought back memories of our amazing time in an amazing country....looking forward to the next 12 months.
Over the last few months the team has used the
@CEIAUSA
metal detector to locate different types of explosive ordnance....such as PMN-4 anti personal mines, OZM-72 bounding fragmentation mines and of course the 299 TM-62P3 anti-tank mines we recently located.
The
@CEIAUSA
detector has been the teams number one tool in locating mines in Ukraine.
During my time in Kharkiv it has become an extension of my right arm and seldom have we been apart.
Simply put, without it the team would not have been able to operate.
Sometimes the team get up close and personal to ensure the destruction of mines, such as this bounding fragmentation mine, which litter the agricultural fields of Ukraine.
Another mixture of a day for the team removing both live and scrap ordnance and consolidating them in a safe controlled environment.
Each item removed benefits the local farming community so that they can return to normality as soon as possible.
Today the team located 2 x live OZM-72 bounding fragmentation mines located in a farmers field.
Once marked, the team prepared to destroy them, however due to the proximity of the power lines, a high order detonation was unacceptable ๐
Another busy day for myself and the other
@OfficialSOLI
EOD team members
@SM_EOD
@iedefeater
with the removal of 10 x TM-62M mines and therefore continually reducing the risk of death or injury to the local farming community...
Today the team conducted disposal technique training with DSNS. Particular focus was on the disposal of cluster munitions which contaminate large areas of Kherson.
Today myself and
@OfficialSOLI
EOD member,
@SM_EOD
conducted 2 x controlled demolitions of Explosive Ordnance that once contaminated to the local agricultural land.
Mines like the PFM-1 are deadly to the farming community in Kharkiv as they are indiscriminately delivered across agricultural fields.
Today we were able to locate such an area and have now begun the process of permanently removing them.
While I await my deployment date, I have set up an
@Invictus_GR
temporary headquarters in Kyiv.
The remainder of the team,
@SM_EOD
and
@BTM_EOD
are currently on route to Ukraine as we speak.
Please continue to support our mission at:
When the team come across explosive ordnance, such as this part of an AT-4, Spigot ATGW, during their surveys they need to be able to accurately identify the item and then diagnose it (what state is it in? can it be moved to a safer consolidation point?).
Me and
@BTM_EOD
finally arrived in Kyiv. A huge shout-out to the traveling Colonels
@medunard
for providing
@tipofthespear42
with Individual first aid kits (IFAKs) which will be vital for the team.
Again please support our mission at
Having complete trust in your team to watch your back and be there when you need them is vital for successโฆ..I could not think of anyone else who I would trust with my life than these brothers..
Sometimes we can find explosive ordnance in the strangest of places like this 220mm URAGAN rocket that has entered the side of someone's house ๐ฒ
If you would like to support our mission please see the link below:
So I have been asked what a DMZ-2 fuze removing tool is!
Basically it's a remote method of removing an anti-tank mine without exposing the EOD operator to a boobytrapped body / fuze, or an anti-lift device....or all three!
Support us to purchase more:
These two RKG-3EM high explosive anti-tank grenades found in a fighting position alongside agricultural land, are particularly dangerous to the local farming community as they are armed and could initiate at any given time.
These will require blowing up in where they lie.
Just arrived in the beautiful city of Lviv. Once aid is unloaded it's off to bed ready for the last leg (at least for me,
@EL4UKR_Harley
will continue south with his mission).
The
@OfficialSOLI
EOD team located the tail section of a 220mm URAGAN rocket. Excavation has now begun to establish if there is a warhead/fuze attached.
Remembering my good friend and fellow Paratrooper, Warrant Officer Class 2, Tom Beckett, who was killed in action today 13 years ago.
Till we meet in Valhalla....
As we get nearer to our next mission in Ukraine,
@tipofthespear42
is busy preparing the kit and equipment required to demine.
In addition, we aim to equip other organisations with
@CEIAUSA
detectors to ensure that they have the best possible chance.
Today myself
@iedefeater
and
@SM_EOD
came across a live OZM-72 bounding fragmentation mine which was fitted with a MUV-4 fuze connected to a trip wire. The mine was submerged with just the fuze protruding above the water.
Definitely working in the snow, sleet and rain was tough, especially when the mines were frozen solid in the ground. It would have been easier for the team to pack up wait for the warmer weather, but there was none else to help these farming communities .
The winter months are tough for demining, but many places donโt have the luxury of waiting for the warmer weather to come. We are back to working with authorities to get mines dealt with quickly and safely.
This was the teams very first controlled demolition in Ukraine. This consisted of 7 x anti-tank mines found in Kharkiv.
All were found using
@CEIAUSA
detectors.
Today the
@OfficialSOLI
EOD team was able to remote pull a live OZM-72 bounding fragmentation mine from a marsh located close to a farming community. This will be destroyed so it no longer presents a danger.
Although our organisation is now up and running there is no time to sit around as I prepare to move to Ukraine in a couple of weeks to continue our mission.
Looking forward to the road trip with my good friend, fellow deminer and volunteer
@EL4UKR_Harley
. Exciting times ahead!!
It's important for the team to maintain relationships with the local authorities such as the Police EOD units.
One of the advantages is it allows the passage of accurate intelligence in regards to locations of explosive ordnance.
I'm extremely happy to announce that I will be joining, with my friends, our new organisation
@Invictus_GR
. This people-focused, non-profit entity, will allow us to enhance our ongoing mission of supporting mine action and humanitarian assistance.
Like a big kid in a sweetshop...๐
Lots of EOD equipment that we purchase has been designed, produced and sold in Ukraine.
By doing so
@Invictus_GR
continues to supports these small businesses that are critical to saving lives.
Please support us at:
Long day of training with
@BTM_EOD
. Weather was hot but we got alot achieved.
We will be ready to deploy into the minefields to help our Ukrainian family avoid that wrong step! โค๏ธ
Please continue to support us:
A heartbreaking moment as the
@Invictus_GR
team visited the place that they called home for almost a year.
Meeting up with the staff that the team considered 'part of the family', was equally emotional.
Today the team was able to locate an additional 4 x TM-62M improvised mines using drones and documents recording the explosive ordnance.
All the mines were disarmed and removed.
In addition the team were able to remove and incinerate 5 x PFM-1 anti-personnel mines.
Please help the team in purchasing additional
@CEIAUSA
detectors so that we can help to remove ,as much as possible, the destruction and heartache mines inflict on this courageous nation.
Your help can make a huge difference, however big or small.
A very sober moment visiting Monty's field today with the
@Invictus_GR
team and
@Swampy_EOD_Ukr
from Prevail. Although there has been some clearance done by the amazing EOD Police teams, the danger from mines is still very evident.
The difference in โMontyโs Fieldโ between now and last summer is quite striking. The amount of area searched and mines cleared is a testament to the professionalism and hard work of the volunteer teams involved and the National Police EOD teams.