A 🧵
The issues of Russian sustainment, supply, and logistics are well documented
This is the KPTM-3 landmine dispenser used to remotely deploy a PTM-3 antitank mines
Russia is using these by the tens of thousands, but there is a new problem at the front
Batteries
1/7
The PTM-3 antitank mine is a shaped HE charge and can be programmed to autodestruct
It is deployed by a man-portable system, Grad and Smerch rockets, UMZ minelayer, or VSM-1 helicopter dispensing system
Each one has a battery
2/7
The PTM-3 mine is installed in a KPTM-3 cassette; after its release by a small charge, the cord is pulled releasing the mechanical safety
But to make all this happen, you need one garden variety LR9 button battery
And recently, batteries are not included
3/7
According to Russian milbloggers Andrei Morozov and Vladimir Grubnik, these batteries are very hard to come by in the Russian Federation and more expensive than in Western nations
You're not going to find them in the battery section in the so-called LNR/DNR
4/7
Without the battery, the PTM-3 won't arm after ejecting from the KPTM-3
And the ratio is 1:1, so troops have to do battery installs by the thousands
But there is another problem
5/7
The LR9 batteries they could procure last year are expired, have to be checked for voltage one by one, and many are dead
The ones that do work, work barely, requiring the KPTM-3 to be deployed within hours
Others were already leaking in the package
6/7
It is another data point showing that Russia is dipping deep into its reserve equipment, the lack of sustainment and maintenance, and the impact of corruption at all levels
All because of a little button battery
7/7
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