‘They look like a toy’: Ukrainian civilians under threat from ‘petal mines’

PFM-1 anti-personnel mines have become a weapon of choice in the war in Ukraine. Also known as “petal mines”, these mines are used by both sides, and can be scattered by rockets, bombs, and, increasingly, drones. Designed to cause injury rather than kill outright, they are, however, particularly dangerous for civilians because they are hard to identify – and to defuse. We spoke to demining experts, who explained the challenges posed by these mines.