Infantry Weapons

MON-series anti-personnel mine

Also known as
  • MON series
  • MON-series mines
  • Russian MON series
  • Soviet MON series

The MON series is a Soviet/Russian family of directional fragmentation anti-personnel mines, including MON-50, MON-90, MON-100, and MON-200 patterns that project preformed fragments across a defined sector. Monitoring groups identify the family in Russian mine warfare in Ukraine and in Russian-linked Tripoli minefields in Libya, while the Nagorno-Karabakh record is narrower and rests on postwar MON-50 clearance reporting.

MON-series anti-personnel mine, Directional fragmentation anti-personnel mine family, Infantry Weapons
Image source: Commons MON-50 Display Image

Role in Conflicts

2014 Second Libyan Civil War
Role in conflict
Tripoli minefields and booby-trap contamination

Landmine Monitor lists MON-50, MON-90, MON-100, and MON-200 mines as Russian-made antipersonnel mines used in Tripoli in 2019-2020 by Russian mercenaries, while Human Rights Watch reported Hiftar-aligned fighters and Russian foreign fighters emplacing banned antipersonnel mines as they withdrew from southern Tripoli.

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Role in conflict
Defensive obstacle and booby-trap mining

MON-family directional mines are represented in the Nagorno-Karabakh record through postwar MON-50 finds: ANAMA reported an Armenian-made MON-50 neutralized in Khojavand district, while Landmine Monitor cautions that Armenian-supported separatist and Armenian state mine use is difficult to distinguish.

Family And Conflict Evidence

The family entry groups MON-series records only where sources identify a named MON model or the monitored MON-series family. The table keeps the broad family context separate from the narrower Nagorno-Karabakh MON-50 clearance evidence.

ContextModels named in sourcesEvidence limit
2014 Russia-Ukraine WarMON-50, MON-90, MON-100, MON-200Human Rights Watch and Landmine Monitor list the models among Russian-used antipersonnel mines after February 2022.
2014 Second Libyan Civil WarMON-50, MON-90, MON-100, MON-200Landmine Monitor attributes Tripoli 2019-2020 use to Russian mercenaries; Human Rights Watch documents the broader Hiftar-aligned and Russian-linked mine contamination.
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ConflictMON-50The direct public reporting found for this page identifies MON-50 clearance evidence rather than every MON family model.
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union / Russia
Type
Directional fragmentation anti-personnel mine family
Service note
Cold War design family in continued post-Soviet service
Designer
Soviet ordnance designers
Designed
1960s family, with later MON-90 and MON-200 variants
Produced
1960s onward

Specifications

Mine type
Directional fragmentation anti-personnel mine; can be command detonated or victim activated by tripwire, tension-release, or other fuze configurations depending on model and setup
Family range class
Model numbers broadly indicate intended fragment range, from 50 m for MON-50 to 200 m for MON-200
MON-50 fragments
About 540 ball bearings or 485 chopped steel rods projected horizontally
MON-100 fragments
About 400 chopped steel rods projected horizontally
MON-100 explosive charge
Approximately 2 kg TNT in a circular metal-bodied mine
Typical tactical use
Mounted above ground on legs, stakes, trees, or field fixtures to cover paths, approaches, and obstacles with a directional fragment fan
Variants

MON model numbers broadly track intended fragment range, with documented family members spanning 50 m through 200 m classes.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
MON-50, Directional fragmentation antipersonnel mine, Infantry WeaponsMON-5050 m class directional mine

Small hand-emplaced MON family member with either steel balls or chopped-rod fragments.

Sources: Landmine Monitor 2025, MON-50 Russian Anti-Personnel Mine

MON-90, Directional fragmentation antipersonnel mine, Infantry WeaponsMON-9090 m class directional mine

Larger MON family member documented in Ukraine mine-action references and usually mounted with a tree spike rather than scissor legs.

Sources: Landmine Use in Ukraine, Explosive Ordnance Guide for Ukraine, Third Edition

MON-100, Directional anti-personnel fragmentation mine, Infantry WeaponsMON-100100 m class directional mine

Circular metal-bodied MON family member with a 2 kg TNT charge and roughly 400 chopped steel fragments.

Sources: Landmine Monitor 2025, Explosive Ordnance Guide for Ukraine, Third Edition

MON-200200 m class directional mine

Largest standard MON family model listed in monitoring tables for 2014 Russia-Ukraine War and Libya conflict contamination.

Sources: Ukraine Mine Ban Policy, Libya Mine Ban Policy

Timeline

MON-series anti-personnel mine Key Events

  1. MON family enters Soviet service

    The MON-50 and MON-100 belong to a Soviet directional fragmentation mine family whose model numbers are tied to intended range classes.

    Sources: Landmine Monitor 2025

  2. Tripoli mine contamination reported

    Human Rights Watch reported antipersonnel mine and booby-trap contamination after Hiftar-aligned and Russian-supported forces withdrew from southern Tripoli.

    Sources: Libya: Landmines, Other War Hazards, Killing Civilians

  3. Libya MON-family use documented

    Human Rights Watch described Soviet/Russian-origin antipersonnel mines in the Tripoli conflict; Landmine Monitor later listed MON-50, MON-90, MON-100, and MON-200 as used there in 2019-2020 by Russian mercenaries.

    Sources: Libya: Landmines, Other War Hazards, Killing Civilians, Libya Mine Ban Policy

  4. Ukraine MON-series use documented

    Human Rights Watch listed MON-50, MON-90, MON-100, and MON-200 among antipersonnel mines used by Russian forces in Ukraine since the February 2022 invasion.

    Sources: Landmine Use in Ukraine

Media

MON-series anti-personnel mine Images

MON-series anti-personnel mine, Directional fragmentation anti-personnel mine family, Infantry Weapons - view 1
Source: Commons MON-50 Display Image
MON-series anti-personnel mine, Directional fragmentation anti-personnel mine family, Infantry Weapons - view 2
Source: Commons MON-100 ORDATA Image
MON-series anti-personnel mine, Directional fragmentation anti-personnel mine family, Infantry Weapons - view 3
Source: Commons MON-90 Training Image
Related Weapon Systems
MON-100, Directional anti-personnel fragmentation mine, Infantry WeaponsInfantry WeaponsMON-100Directional anti-personnel fragmentation mineThe MON-100 is a Soviet/Russian directional anti-personnel fragmentation mine in the larger end of the MON family. Technical references describe a circular metal-bodied, stake- or fixture-mounted mine with a 2 kg TNT charge, roughly 400 steel fragments, and command or tripwire-capable initiation. Monitoring groups identify MON-100 use by Russian forces in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War and by Russian mercenaries around Tripoli during the 2014 Second Libyan Civil War.
MON-50, Directional fragmentation antipersonnel mine, Infantry WeaponsInfantry WeaponsMON-50Directional fragmentation antipersonnel mineThe MON-50 is a Soviet directional fragmentation antipersonnel mine broadly comparable in role to the M18 Claymore, with a plastic body, folding legs, and a forward fragmentation pattern. It can be command-detonated or configured with tripwire and other fuzing, making it a compact infantry obstacle and ambush munition. Direct monitoring sources document MON-50 use by Russian or Russian-aligned forces in eastern Ukraine, the full-scale Russia-Ukraine War, and the 2019-2020 Tripoli fighting in Libya.
MON-90, Directional fragmentation antipersonnel mine, Infantry WeaponsInfantry WeaponsMON-90Directional fragmentation antipersonnel mineThe MON-90 is a Soviet-designed directional fragmentation antipersonnel mine and the 90 m member of the MON family between the smaller MON-50 and larger MON-100. Technical references describe a plastic-bodied, tree-spike-mounted mine with about 2,000 steel fragments, two M-10 threaded fuze wells, and command or tripwire initiation depending on setup. Direct monitoring sources place MON-90 mines in Russian use in Ukraine after the 2022 invasion and in Russian-linked Tripoli mine contamination during the Second Libyan Civil War.

Sources

Landmine Monitor 2025Publisher: Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor | Note: Supports MON-family background and specifications, including MON model range numbering and MON-50/MON-100 fragment loads. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Landmine Monitor 2022Publisher: Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor | Note: Supports 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict context: mines were reported used by Armenian forces in 2020-2021, while attribution between Armenian-supported separatist forces and Armenian state forces could not be distinguished. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Landmine Use in UkrainePublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use by Russian forces by listing MON-50, MON-90, MON-100, and MON-200 mines among antipersonnel landmines used in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Ukraine Mine Ban PolicyPublisher: Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use by Russian forces by listing MON-50, MON-90, MON-100, and MON-200 in the MON-series mines deployed in Ukraine after February 2022. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Libya: Landmines, Other War Hazards, Killing CiviliansPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Directly supports 2014 Second Libyan Civil War mine-use context by reporting that Hiftar-aligned fighters and Russian foreign fighters emplaced antipersonnel mines and booby traps around Tripoli as they withdrew. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Libya Mine Ban PolicyPublisher: Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor | Note: Directly supports 2014 Second Libyan Civil War use by listing MON-50, MON-90, MON-100, and MON-200 as Russian-made antipersonnel mines used in Tripoli in 2019-2020 by Russian mercenaries. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Explosive Ordnance Guide for Ukraine, Third EditionPublisher: Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining | Note: Supports MON-family ordnance-recognition context and technical details for MON-90 and MON-100 in a Ukraine-focused explosive ordnance guide. | Accessed: 2026-06-29MON-50 Russian Anti-Personnel MinePublisher: U.S. Army ODIN Worldwide Equipment Guide | Note: Supports MON-50 technical background and current production/manufacturer-country context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29ANAMA MON-50 Khojavand ReportPublisher: Caliber.Az | Note: Supports 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict direct use: ANAMA reported an Armenian-made MON-50 used by or fielded by Armenian forces and neutralized in Khojavand district. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Azerbaijan UN Letter on MinesPublisher: AZERTAC | Note: Supports 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict context: Azerbaijan's UN letter said mines were installed by Armenian forces in returned areas and identified MON-50 among Armenian-produced anti-personnel mines displayed by Hayk-Meg. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Commons MON-50 Display ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for an inert MON-50 photographed by Martin Olsson under reusable Commons licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Commons MON-50 ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a MON-50 photograph by Johan Fredriksson under reusable Commons licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Commons MON-100 ORDATA ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain MON-100 image sourced from the U.S. Government ORDATA database. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Commons MON-90 Training ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a MON-90 installation training image licensed on Commons as CC BY 4.0 with Mil.ru attribution. | Accessed: 2026-06-29