Russian forces are modifying Shahed-series drones to deploy PTM-3 anti-tank mines over Ukrainian territory, according to Ukraine’s National Police.
“In the Sumy region, a hostile attack drone shot down by the Ukrainian Defense Forces was found, which had clusters of anti-tank mines PTM-3 attached under its wings,” the agency said in a social media post.
The PTM-3 is a small, plastic-cased anti-tank mine with a magnetic sensor that triggers when military vehicles pass close or stop nearby. Its non-metallic body makes it hard to detect with standard metal detectors.
The National Police warned the drones could remotely mine roads, fields, and unpaved routes in active or low-visibility areas.
Civilians, especially agricultural and utility vehicle operators, were urged to avoid suspect roads and report any mines. Authorities also cautioned against approaching downed drones, citing possible secondary charges or booby traps.
Russia has not commented on the discovery. However, footage posted Sunday by pro-Russian Telegram channels, including NGP-Razvedka, appeared to confirm the deployment, showing a Shahed releasing PTM-3 mines from wing-mounted cassettes onto routes used by Ukrainian forces.
An absolutely new, unimaginable level of terror. The Russians are publishing videos showing them dropping PTM-3 anti-tank mines from Shahed kamikaze drones onto ordinary Ukrainian civilian roads. This is an absolutely monstrous war crime.#RussianWarCrimes pic.twitter.com/3ho0ALVbBA
— Alexandre 🇺🇦 (@Toriadus) August 10, 2025
Without disclosing the location, NGP-Razvedka’s post said the Shahed drone remotely mined Ukrainian supply routes, destroying one vehicle and damaging another carrying soldiers.
“The guidance system will be further improved, the tactics of use will be expanded, and the Nazis’ logistics will be turned into a real nightmare,” the post added.
The Iranian-made Shahed-series drones, with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers, are long-range loitering munitions capable of carrying large explosive warheads or specialized payloads. Guided by GPS and inertial navigation systems, they can strike both stationary and moving targets with precision.
Satellite imagery and open-source intelligence earlier showed that Russian forces were converting the ruins of Donetsk Airport into a launch and storage hub for these drones.
