During his speech in the Verkhovna Rada, the Minister of Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, commented on the problem of supplying low-quality mines to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He said that out of several million mines produced, 417 cases of recent detonation were recorded due to defects in the import threshold.
Smetanin reminded that Ukraine will produce 2.5 million rounds of ammunition this year.
"Regarding the situation that developed directly with 120, 82-mm mines... To the information provided by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, that according to the reports received from the military units of the Defense Forces, the number of abnormal activations of 120-mm mines is 417 abnormal activations, out of millions - a total of 417 abnormal activations," said Smetanin.
According to him, a commission consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense, the manufacturing plant, the Armed Forces, and the SBU conducted an inspection at the manufacturing plant.
"An act was drawn up regarding the non-conformity of the supplied products to the Ministry of Defense. Deficiencies caused by the abnormal operation of gunpowder purchased abroad were revealed. For reference: for the production of projectile charges, spherical brands of powders were used, which have been used since 1985 by NATO member countries for the production of 81, 120-mm mines. However, in the process of operation, the gunpowder changed its properties and began to work abnormally. All the necessary measures have been taken, the Ministry of Defense in accordance with the acts...", Smetanin claims.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that the reasons for the unusual detonation of 120 mm mines are being investigated by an interdepartmental commission. Currently, the use of ammunition has been suspended, and the defective batch of mines has been removed. According to the preliminary results of the investigation, the mines do not work due to possible causes of defects, in particular, low-quality powder charges or violation of storage conditions. Based on this fact, the SBI started criminal proceedings.
Subsequently, the Minister of Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, said that out of a batch of 54,000 120-mm mines suspected of malfunctioning, about 24,000 are to be returned. This is less than 1% of the products produced this year. Currently, mine manufacturers are strengthening quality control at all stages of production.
Earlier in the mass media there was information that Ukrainian fighters use defective mortar mines produced by Ukroboronprom. The soldiers at the front complain that the ammunition is of low quality.
