A PFM-1 training mine, distinguishable from the live version by the presence of the Cyrillic letter У (short for учебный, uchebnyy, "for training").PFM-1 schematic
PFM-1 is a scatterable anti-personnel land mineofSoviet and Russian production.[1] It is also known as a Green Parrot or Butterfly Mine.[1] The mines can be deployed from mortars, helicopters and aeroplanes in large numbers; they glide to the ground without exploding and will explode later upon contact.
Design
The mine consists of a polythene plastic container containing 40g of explosive liquid.[1] The two wings of the PFM-1 allow it to glide after being released in the air, then spin which stabilizes it and slows its descent.[2][1] The thick wing contains the liquid explosive.[2] The two wings together are 120 mm (about 5 inches) long.[3] The plastic body can be moulded in a variety of colours for best camouflage. As existing stocks were in European green, rather than sand coloured, the first examples used in 1980s Afghanistan were green and so easily visible. This led to their name of 'green parrots'.[2]
The shape and bright colour is attractive to children, inspiring claims that they were deliberately designed to look like a toy.[4][5] This was denied by the Soviets and, while the mines did endanger children, there is no evidence to suggest they were designed to look appealing.[6]
The mine can be deployed from mortars, helicopters and airplanes.[7][1] Because the mine is so light, it can be carried in waterways and moves downstream after heavy rains or with melting snow.[7]
Action
The mine is stored with a pin restraining a detonating plunger. Once the arming pin is removed, the plunger is slowly forced forward by a spring until it contacts the detonator, at which point it is armed.[8]
Deformation of the soft plastic skin of the mine forces the arming plunger to strike the detonator, detonating the mine.[8] Because the body of the mine is a single cumulative pressure primer, it is extremely dangerous to handle the mine: The Imperial War Museum states that "A pressure in excess of 5kg would activate the mine".[1] Holding it between the thumb and forefinger may be enough to make it explode.[7] The charge is usually nonlethal, although sufficient to maim.[7]
Compliance with the Ottawa Convention
In 2017, the government of Belarus announced that it had destroyed its stockpiles of PFM-1 mines.[9] The last 78 PFM-1 mines held by Belarus were destroyed as the highlight of the closing ceremony marking the elimination of their landmine stock.[9]
In a November 2008 presentation, Ukraine indicated that it had destroyed 101,088 PFM-1 mines per the convention in 1999. In 2013, a framework programme in support of the EU-Ukraine agreements highlighted that Europe would provide support to Ukraine in the destruction of its PFM-1 stockpiles [10]. Ukraine stated that its stockpile of PFM-1 mines in 1999 was 6,000,000 units, which has been reduced to ~5,600,000 after the destruction of the mines in 1999 and the destruction of an additional 300,000 mines by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency – NSPA at the Pavlograd Chemical Plant.[10]
PFM-1 was used during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, allegedly resulting in a high number of casualties among children from being mistaken for a toy due to its shape and coloring.[11] As the mine is made of plastic, it is intended not to kill but to maim.[7]
In 2022, Ukraine and Russia have both accused each other of using the mines during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Ukrainian and western sources claiming that Russian forces used the mines in Mariupol and Kharkiv,[12][13] and Russian and separatist sources claiming that Ukrainian forces dropped the mines in Donetsk.[14][15][16]
^Rae McGrath (Jun 11, 2013). "Soviet Land Mines Endangered Children but Did Not Specifically Target Them". In Nelson, David Erik (ed.). Afghanistan. Greenhaven Publishing LLC. p. 91. ISBN0737762519.
^ abcdeCauderay, Gérald C. (1993). "Anti-Personnel Mines"(PDF). International Review of the Red Cross. 33 (295): 273–287. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
