Ukrainians innovate with 3D‑printed mines amid weapon shortage
Due to a shortage of weaponry, both Ukrainians and Russians are creating field substitutes. For Ukrainians, one of the most important means of defense has become anti-personnel mines. Here's how they produce inexpensive substitutes using 3D printers.
From the start of the war, Ukrainians were eager to use their substantial stockpiles of anti-tank mines, which were effective against Russian armored and mechanized forces. Unfortunately, over time, Russians adapted their tactics to employ large numbers of infantry, whose attacks are referred to as "meat assaults."
This poses issues because small Russian assault groups can sneak up on Ukrainian positions at night or take advantage of conditions like fog. Similarly, North Korean soldiers have shown little regard for the losses they incur.
In such cases, it would be ideal to secure fortifications with anti-personnel mines. However, Ukraine signed the Ottawa Treaty on February 24, 1999, and ratified it on December 27, 2005. This treaty prohibits the use of such mines and mandates the disposal of existing stockpiles.
Anti-personnel mines — a key weapon Ukraine regrets disposing of
Russia did not comply with this treaty, which is why anti-personnel mines are still present in Ukraine. Recently, the Americans allowed the transfer of some anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. However, this is insufficient to meet the demand. For this reason, Ukrainians have developed their own analogs of PFM-1 "butterfly" mines, scattered by drones and referred to as "Gingerbread."
In the video below, a Russian is seen disassembling such a mine, which consists of a 3D-printed body containing about 1 ounce of explosive material and a simple detonator based on a primer and a screw. The screw is attached to a thin cover, which breaks when stepped on, causing the screw to fall onto the primer and initiate the explosion of the explosive charge.
Ukrainians produce mine bodies themselves or receive them from volunteer groups, such as national branches of the Wild Bees group. These groups conduct fundraising to finance the purchase of materials for producing various elements with 3D printers for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
