Profile
- Type
- Bounding antipersonnel fragmentation mine
- Conflict side
- Russia
- Origin
- Soviet Union
- Service note
- Adopted in 1972; documented in the Russia-Ukraine War
Infantry Weapons
OZM-72
The OZM-72 is a Soviet-designed bounding antipersonnel fragmentation mine that ejects from its casing before detonation, projecting fragments around the burst point. In the Russia-Ukraine War, Human Rights Watch has documented OZM-72 mines among Russian antipersonnel mine use, making the system part of Ukraine's wider explosive-ordnance clearance problem in retaken areas.
- Conflict side
- Russia
- Built by
- Factory 583Soviet state arsenals
- Built in
- Soviet UnionRussia
Service History
- In service
- Adopted in 1972
- Used by
- Russian Armed Forces, Soviet and post-Soviet armed forces
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designer
- Factory 583
- Designed
- Early 1970s
- Built by
- Factory 583Soviet state arsenals
- Built in
- Soviet UnionRussia
- Unit cost
- Not publicly reported
- Produced
- 1970s onward
- Number built
- Not publicly reported
- Variants
- OZM-72 with MUV-series tripwire fuzes, OZM-72 used with electronic or command-initiation systems
Specifications
- Mine type
- Bounding antipersonnel fragmentation mine with all-round effect
- Weight
- 5 kg
- Explosive charge
- 0.66 kg TNT
- Dimensions
- 108 mm diameter; 172 mm height
- Burst height
- 0.6-0.9 m
- Fragmentation
- About 2,400 preformed lethal elements plus body fragments
- Fuzing
- Tripwire, command-detonated, and other fuze options reported
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Russia
Human Rights Watch documented OZM-72 bounding fragmentation mines among antipersonnel mines used by Russian forces in Ukraine, including mines found and deactivated by Ukrainian deminers in recently retaken areas of Kharkiv region.
OZM-72 Images
Related Weapon Systems
MON-100Directional anti-personnel fragmentation mineThe MON-100 is a Soviet/Russian directional anti-personnel fragmentation mine, a larger member of the MON family intended to project steel fragments across a 100-meter danger area. In the Russia-Ukraine War it appears in mine-action reporting as one of the MON-series mines used by Russian forces, adding to the hand-emplaced and tripwire or command-initiated explosive hazards facing Ukrainian deminers and civilians.
TM-62Anti-tank blast mineThe TM-62 is a Soviet family of circular anti-tank blast mines built around a central fuze and a large high-explosive charge. The metal-cased TM-62M and plastic-cased TM-62P3 variants are documented in the Russia-Ukraine War, where both sides have used anti-vehicle mines extensively to block routes, defend positions, and contaminate farmland and approaches.
MON-90Directional fragmentation anti-personnel mineThe MON-90 is a Soviet-designed directional fragmentation anti-personnel mine, broadly comparable in role to a large Claymore-type munition. It uses a plastic, curved body and a heavy explosive charge to project steel fragments across a fixed arc, and open-source mine-action reporting identifies it among the antipersonnel mines contaminating Ukrainian territory during the Russia-Ukraine War.
POM-2Scatterable antipersonnel fragmentation mineThe POM-2 is a Soviet/Russian scatterable antipersonnel fragmentation mine that deploys tripwire sensors after delivery by rockets, helicopters, aircraft, vehicles, or specialized dispensers. In Ukraine, it appears as part of Russia's remotely delivered mine threat, including documented POM-2 mines and KPOM-2 canisters recovered in areas cleared by Ukrainian emergency services.
TM-72Shaped-charge anti-tank mineThe TM-72 is a Soviet metal-cased anti-tank mine built around a shaped-charge effect and magnetic-influence fuzing, rather than a simple pressure blast. In Ukraine it is documented less often than common TM-62-series mines, but open reporting in 2026 described both limited battlefield use and Russian efforts to employ TM-72 mines in contested urban approaches.
9K111 FagotMan-portable anti-tank guided missile systemThe 9K111 Fagot, known to NATO as the AT-4 Spigot, is a Soviet man-portable SACLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile system built around the 9P135 tripod launcher and 9M111 missile family. Its compact launcher, vehicle-mount compatibility, and 2 to 2.5 km range kept it relevant for legacy users, including Russian anti-tank teams documented in the Russia-Ukraine War.Sources
Munition, mine, OZM-72Publisher: Fenix Insight METIS | Note: Supports OZM-72 background, adoption period, Soviet-era development, and manufacturer context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Soviet OZM-72 Anti-Personnel MinePublisher: Sappers.org | Note: Supports technical identification, dimensions, explosive charge, burst height, fuzing, and fragmentation details. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Background Briefing on Landmine Use in UkrainePublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports direct Russia-Ukraine War use context, including HRW identification of OZM-72 mines used in Ukraine and reports of mines attributed to Russian forces. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Ukraine: Banned Landmines Harm CiviliansPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports direct Russia-Ukraine War context for Russian use of OZM-72 mines and Ukrainian deminer clearance findings in Kharkiv region. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:OZM-72.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and CC BY 4.0 licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:Soviet Anti-personnel landmines OZM-72.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and CC0 licensing for a reference photo of OZM-72 mines. | Accessed: 2026-06-20