In one recent operation, Ukrainian sappers of the 5th Border Detachment successfully neutralized russian Shahed drone that had been equipped not only with a 50-kilogram warhead but also with two additional anti-tank mines.
The drone had been shot down earlier by border guards over one of the border communities in the Shostka district. Upon arriving at the crash site, the demining team examined the wreckage and found a highly unusual configuration: the kamikaze UAV carried its standard explosive payload along with two PTM-3 anti-tank mines mounted under its wings. This modification significantly increased the destructive potential of the weapon.
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The PTM-3 is a 4.9-kilogram anti-tank mine designed for remote deployment. It contains 1.8 kilograms of high explosive and is equipped with a non-contact magnetic fuse. The fuse is triggered by changes in the magnetic field, reacting to metallic objects such as vehicles or armored machinery weighing over 50 kilograms.
In this configuration, the Shahed drone could have caused widespread destruction even after impact, turning the debris site into a lethal trap for rescue teams or civilians.
According to sapper Andrii from the 5th Border Detachment, the danger was compounded by the unconventional use of the PTM-3 mines.
"The enemy has begun experimenting with additional payloads to increase the lethality of their drones. In this case, two anti-tank mines were mounted in a way that could have caused secondary explosions after the main detonation," he noted.
Fortunately, the drone did not detonate upon impact with the ground. The demining unit carefully secured the area, transported the explosive components to a designated demolition site, and destroyed them in a controlled explosion. The professionalism and caution of the sappers prevented potential casualties and further damage.
As Defense Express previously reported, russian forces have introduced a new and alarming tactic in their ongoing attacks on Ukraine's Sumy region. According to Serhii Flash, russian troops have begun attaching two containers filled with anti-tank mines under the wings of the Shahed-type kamikaze drones. Several such cases were recorded over the past day, signaling a dangerous escalation in the use of modified loitering munitions against both military and civilian targets.
Read more: russia Equips its Shahed Drones with Anti-Tank Mines in Attacks on Sumy Region (Photos)
