In Kherson, Russian military are scattering a new type of mines. They are made of 3D plastic and wrapped in camouflage tape. Because of this they are hard to notice in green areas. The improvised mines resemble “pryaniki”, which the Russian army used earlier, but are larger in size and contain more explosives.
This was told to Suspilne by the head of the explosive ordnance disposal department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kherson region, Volodymyr Perepelytsia.
According to him, the use of improvised mines is an attempt by the Russian army to compensate for a shortage of «petals». The Russian forces have modernized their anti-personnel mine, which is called a «pryanik».
“It’s printed on a 3D printer, inside contains an explosive substance, a detonator and what is needed for it to trigger. It functions the same as a PFM – from pressure being applied to it. If a person steps on it, a vehicle drives over it, the plastic bends, sometimes breaks through, and an explosion occurs”, – Perepelytsia says.
The improvised mines are initiated by electricity, and this system is more sensitive than mechanical, says the head of the police explosive ordnance disposal service.
“We tested this mine. The average activation pressure is seven kilograms. That is enough that any adult person, stepping on it, would risk very serious injuries. There is enough explosive in it to tear off a foot. Because, unfortunately, it contains an explosive substance that shatters everything in its path: skin, tissues, bones, metal. It doesn’t care”, – Perepelytsia says.
Russian forces drop these anti-personnel mines from copter-type drones.
They do not have a self-destruct mechanism and are wrapped in camouflage fabric.
“In the grass this thing is very hard to see, and the fabric does not reflect sunlight directly but absorbs it. This additionally camouflages the object. Recently the enemy has been dropping mines onto soft surfaces so the plastic doesn’t break, and they are hardest to see in the grass. We have encountered these munitions in different parts of Kherson”, – Volodymyr Perepelytsia said.
Recall that recently in Sablukivka a woman stepped on a Russian ‘petal’.
That same day in Kherson due to the detonation of Russian explosives a municipal worker was injured, who was cleaning up trash on the street.