[Republican Wildcat]

Why would they have planted minefields...behind them?

[Flag_This]

"Why would they have planted minefields...behind them?"

To discourage them from retreating.

[The Iceman Cometh]

Why would they have planted minefields...behind them?

There are reports of Ukrainians attempting to mine the roads behind the Russian positions.

[17th Miss Regt]

There are several east-west defense lines in this region. The intent is that when one line becomes untenable you withdraw to the next line through cleared lanes in the minefields in front of the next line and then seal those cleared lanes. If the minefields are not marked carefully or if the defenders are falling back in disorder, they could easily stumble into the minefields of the second line.

Also note that artillery delivered mines may not land where the firer expects or they may simply not be marked at all. Retreating troops can stumble into them by accident as well.

[snoringbear]

“Why would they have planted minefields...behind them?”
**********

Maybe for the same reason the Soviet Army at Stalingrad had a line of soldiers behind the forward line to enforce their no retreat orders?

[for-q-clinton]

To stop the Ukraine from advancing. But they didn’t do a good job of marking them or avoiding them.

[MeganC]

To prevent retreat.