Revealing the most terrifying landmines in the Russian army.

According to United Nations statistics, more than 26,000 people in 75 countries worldwide die each year from landmines. Although these anti-personnel explosive devices are inhumane means of warfare, many countries continue to use them.

Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense

The common reason is: Landmines are not only effective tools for inflicting casualties on the enemy, but they also create psychological pressure that can deter entire divisions, as soldiers will be terrified by unseen threats.

RIA Novosti has compiled a list of the most dangerous landmines currently in service with the Russian Army.

One of Russia's most well-known landmines is the "Witch," also known as OZM072. This type of mine was developed in the 1970s during the Soviet era and belongs to the class of jump-detonating mines. Its structure is quite simple, consisting of a steel cup containing an explosive charge and a warhead with 660 grams of TNT and 2,400 fragmentation shrapnel.

The mine activates when the tensioned fuse is released after impact, propelling the explosive charge to a height of 60-80 cm. Its lethal radius is approximately 72-75 meters. This mine has been used effectively in the Afghan battlefield.

The "Flower Petal" mine doesn't have a powerful warhead like the "Witch" mine; its warhead only contains 37 grams of explosive. While this mine doesn't scatter metal fragments over a wide area, it has a significant psychological impact. The problem is that when it explodes, it can severely injure the foot. This can cripple an entire squad, as the injured soldiers will need assistance to continue moving.

Therefore, enemy forces would have to be very cautious in moving forward without skilled mine-clearing experts to clear the way. Notably, the "Flower Petal" mines do not need to be carefully placed but are scattered on the ground. Their small size makes them difficult to detect, thus increasing their danger.

One of the most effective anti-personnel mines is the MON-50 guided mine. This mine was developed during the Soviet era in the 1960s and 70s. It can be attached to any surface and detonated via a remote control.

The destructive power of this mine is astonishing – all personnel within a 54-degree radius and at heights from 15cm to 4m will be affected by 540 metal fragments and 700 grams of explosive. This mine is capable of destroying an entire truck.

The PMN anti-personnel mine, also known as the "Black Widow," is a step-detonator mine that has been in service since 1950. This device was used in numerous conflicts of the last century. Its characteristics include low weight and non-fragmentation.

The target was destroyed by detonating 200 grams of explosive. Its small weight allowed soldiers to carry it in reserve and deploy it widely on the ground to create an impenetrable minefield.

According to Danviet