Tag: OSINT

HK MP7s in Ukraine

We’ve seen a number of submachine guns appear in Ukraine over the last 3 years, MP5s, B&T APC-9s, Ukraine’s own Fort 320 and classics like the Carl Gustaf M/45 but one of the rarer to appear is Heckler & Koch’s MP7. Sightings of these began in early 2025. In this article/video we’ll survey some of the sightings, examine how the guns have been set up and I’ll share some opinions and insights shared by Ukrainian soldiers who have experience with the MP7.

If you’re unfamiliar with the HK MP7, its a personal defence weapon chambered in the proprietary 4.6x30mm round. It uses a gas-operated, short stroke piston action and weighs around 1.8kg (4lbs) unloaded and without accessories. It was introduced in the early 2000s and is in use with a number of militaries and law enforcement agencies around the world. It is typically used as a PDW for personnel who don’t need a full-size rifle, for close quarter tasks by special forces and as a concealable carbine for personal protection details.

The earliest photograph of an MP7 I have come across dates to February 2025 when a member of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (the GUR/HUR)’s Kraken Regiment posted an image of a black MP7A2 with an Aimpoint Micro T-1 red dot and a Finnish Ase Utra S Series SL4i SMG-MP7 suppressor. Colleagues at StreakingDelilah report that the individual noted that Kraken had received a small number of the weapons (between 5-7) and that they were brought out for some training sessions but have not yet seen action “in the field”.

The next sighting came in August 2025, when a member of the HUR Tymur Special Unit shared a photo posing with an MP7A2 in HK’s favoured RAL 8000 colour. It appears to have been fitted with an Aimpoint Acro red dot on an Eratac mount and an Ase Utra S Series SL4i SMG-MP7 suppressor.

At the beginning of Septmber a member of the Special Operations Center “South” (formerly the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center) posted a short clip showing an operator equipped with what appears to be an MP7 but is in fact a licensed airsoft copy from Umarex. We can identify this from the white license markings on the right side of the receiver. It’s complete with an Umarex H&K QD Suppressor  and a PEQ-15. Its unclear if an airsoft clone is being use for training because the actual weapons are in the SSO’s inventory.

Potential Airsoft – On 11 September 2025 an Instagram account affiliated with the Ukrainian Army’s Air Assault forces shared a photo of an individual posing with a black MP7A2, The MP7 has a 30 round magazine, an Ase Utra suppressor and an Aimpoint Micro T-2 red dot optic. It’s unclear if elements of Ukraine’s Air Assault forces have also received MP7, this is the only photograph of a combatant from that formation holding one of the weapons I’ve come across so far.

In November and December two additional images of black MP7A2s were shared by combatants with HUR units. The gun is seen with an Ase Utra suppressor and an Aimpoint Micro T-2 red dot optic.

The first sighting of the MP7s in 2026 came in February, with several posts about the weapons on Telegram. On 6 February, a telegram channel affiliated from individuals from Ukraine SOF community posted a series of photographs of a brand new RAL 8000 MP7A2, with Ase Utra suppressor and Acro red dot on an Eratac USL mount. The caption praised the weapons “compactness, low weight, and practically no recoil” but noted that it has a short effective range, unique ergonomics and uncommon ammunition. The post went on to suggest that its best use would be as a PDW for snipers.

Another Telegram post, on 9 February, by Про Зброю, which has been described as a shooting instructor serving in the Ukrainian Army, described the MP7 as “extremely convenient, very compact and lightweight, a highly maneuverable weapon that allows for surprisingly controlled automatic fire against a “silhouette” target at distances of up to 100 meters and beyond. There’s practically no recoil or barrel flip when firing. A long burst can be completely placed in the target! The accuracy, thanks to the collimator sight, is excellent! And the sound of the shot is well muffled by the compact sound moderator.” The author’s primary complaint, however, was that 4.6x30mm ammunition is exotic and rarely available in Ukraine. It’s unclear how much ammunition has been supplied for the weapons. The earlier post included a photo of Fiocchi 4.6mm copper plated steel black tip ammunition.

At the beginning of April a combatant with an HUR team shared a photo posing with an MP7A2 during a range trip. The individual shared some thoughts on the MP7 with me, he noted that it’s a “weapon more for bodyguards” and that while “the weapon is very cool” its best suited to specific roles. He noted that .300BLK is preferred for operational roles that require a quiet weapon. He also noted that the accuracy of the MP7 wasn’t as good as he’d expected. It’s unknown what sort of ammunition he used while testing the MP7. Again the weapon has the standard Ase Utra suppressor and an Aimpoint Acro red dot sight on an Eratac USL mount.

Most recently on 24 April 2026, ‘Explosive Department’ an instagram account affiliated with an element of the HUR’s Kraken Regiment shared a photograph of a RAL 8000 MP7A2 with an FDE Aimpoint Acro and an Ase Utra S Series suppressor.

From discussions with sources its possible to confirm that these weapons, along with HK416A8s and MG4 and MG5s, have been provided to Ukraine by Heckler & Koch as part of German aid to Ukraine. They appear to have common accessory configurations including Ase Utra S Series suppressors and Acros on Eratac USL mounts. Imagery shows a mixture of 20- and 30- round magazines.

Thank you to colleagues at StreakingDelilah, MilitaryLand and to Mathias for their help with various elements of this article/video.

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Rare Mk14 Anti-Structure Grenades & Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade In Ukraine

One of the rarer hand grenades to surface in Ukraine is the US Mk14 Anti-Structure grenade. These were developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, back in the 2000s.

The Mk 14 Mod 0 Anti-Structural Munition Hand Grenade has been primarily used by USSOCOM. It is reportedly a Thermobaric Fuel-Air-Explosive Blast (FAE-Blast), hand grenade with a longer duration HE-Blast pressure curve.

The ASM has a thin-walled aluminium body with a main charge filler of PBXN-109 and a PBXN-114 booster. The grenade body is black with three knurled bands with a yellow band at the top and two sticker labels which read: “HE Overpressure Grenade, NEW 0.88 lbs. Fuze 4.5 sec”.

Mk 14 Mod 0 Anti-Structural Munition Hand Grenade (via Social Media)

Using the principle of overpressure the ASM, much like the US Army’s new M111 grenade, reduces the risk of friendly casualties due to fragmentation during close combat. In enclosed areas the grenade creates concussion effects and can be used for for blast or demolition tasks. It has a M213-type fuze with a 3-5 second delay, though the stickers seen on the grenades state 4.5 seconds

The available evidence of Mk14 ASM presence in Ukraine is extremely slim. To date, I have only come across a handful of images of the grenades, which were reportedly taken in Ukraine. The individuals who have shared imagery of the grenades have predominantly been associated with Ukrainian special operations units.

Another extremely rare offensive hand grenade seen in Ukraine is the Nammo Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade (SOHG – HGO115M-3.5). The SOHG is a modular grenade with a plastic body packed with either Comp B filling (115g) or PBXN-11 filling (130g). It has a male-female screw interface moulded into the body that allows up to three modules (which can all be used individually) to be screwed together. This allows the system to be scaled to the target its engaging or the space its being used in – Nammo say one equals a concussion grenade, two creates enough overpressure to kill anyone in a average space and the cumulative effect of three modules provides a small scale anti-structure capability. According to Nammo the SOHG modules with a fuze weigh 230g while the modules without fuze weight 190g.

Nammo Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade (via Social Media)

Designated the MK21 Mod 0 in US service, SOCOM have been using them since 2010 and the US Marine Corps purchased some in 2024. Unlike the Mk 14 Mod 0 it is not a thermobaric grenade. The first sighting of them in Ukraine came in July 2024, when a Russian telegram channel posted a short video showing some of the weapons captured from Ukrainian units by a reconnaissance unit with Russia’s Tsentr (Center) battlegroup.

In November 2024, when a Russian telegram channel focused on Sapper and EOD activities shared photos of a base unit and an additional module. It’s unclear if these are captured examples or they are images pulled from the internet to illustrate the post.

Most recently, in May 2025, a pair of SOHGs were captured by Russian forces, each was captured with its own fuze, configured for individual use. All of the grenades seen in the imagery have the lot number VR123L001-002 and an NSN which denotes they are filled with Composition B. Given the presence of the Finnish National Codification Bureau number, ’58’, in the NSN, the grenades were likely provided by Finland.

Thanks to AbraxasSpa and Helvegen29 for thier help collecting imagery.

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TCEs in Ukraine

Over the last 4 years I’ve spent a huge amount of time studying imagery from the war in Ukraine, examining the types of weapon systems and equipment in use. You quickly noticed how soldiers try to display their individuality through their kit, be it patches (some good some bad) or a FN FAL covered in faux fur. Another critical bit of kit I’ve seen more than a few soldiers with over the last few years is sets of tactical cat ears.

Troops from all manner of units, on both sides, have been spotted sporting tactical cat ears over the last couple of years. Before we dive into an examination of some examples of their employment its worth touching on their origins and history. From what I can dig up, they began to appear in the late 2010s, initially popular with the airsoft and LARP communities and after Russia’s February 2022 invasion and Ukraine’s mass mobilisation, they subsequently bled over into the kit of serving soldiers. China-based gear companies have long offered the velcro tactical cat ears (TCE), but as they increased in popularity, Ukrainian companies have also offered locally-produced versions. Companies like TUR Gear or Balistyka offer a range of styles and soft hats with TCEs. They appear to be priced around 200 to 300 Hryvnia or $5-8.

Ukraine’s female soldiers, mostly drone operators and medics, are one of the largest groups identified who utilise tactical cat ears. In March 2024, Ukraine’s State Border Guards shared a photo of a soldier attached to a Shahed hunting anti-aircraft team. Her helmet features some prominent TCEs. TCEs found their way to Sudzha during the Kursk offensive in Summer 2024.

Ukraine’s Liut Police Brigade shared a photo of a female combatant with TCEs in March 2025. Later the same month photo of a drone operator with the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade with TCE was shared by the bridges official social media. .

A memorial post for a combat medic with the 71st Separate Brigade, killed in November 2025, featured her in a set of TCEs. In February 2026, April Huggett, a medic with the Alcatraz Battalion of the 93rd Brigade shared a photo showing her helmet equipped with TCEs.

It is by no means just female soldiers who employ TCEs they’re regularly seen atop the helmets of hardened operators too. In January 2023, a Ukrainian combatant, callside Burger, was photographed near Bakhmut with a set of TCEs. An individual with an International Legion unit [2nd battalion] was seen with TCEs in an April 2024 team photo.

In May 2023, Anna Filipova a volunteer who provides kit to Ukrainian medics, gave a medic her TCEs and vowed to giveaway more. The Liut Police Brigade also has some male TCE users, with a combatant featured in a team photo shared on the brigade’s social media in December 2024. This footage from an Azov Brigade reconnaissance team clearing a hamlet, in Spring 2025, features an individual wearing a set of TCEs.

In May 2025, a member of the Ukrainian National Guard’s 1st Presidential Brigade was filmed firing an AT-4 during fighting in the Kharkiv oblast. In July 2025, the Ukrainian National Guard’s Khartiia Corps shared a photo of a member with a set of TCEs. In early December 2025, the 144th Centre of Special Operations Forces shared a photograph of an operator with TCEs and a Colt Model 933 carbine.

There’s also some variation amongst TCEs with camouflage patterns and cuts varying, but it also appears there are also TDE or tactical devil/demon ears or horns – TDHs. A combatant with the Black Beard Group, part of the Ukrainian National Guard’s 27th Brigade, is frequently seen sporting TDE.

I will note that I only really started tracking Tactical Cat Ear usage in 2023 at the suggestion of user: I Saw A Bear so I’m sure there’s plenty of earlier examples I’ve missed too. Thanks to I Saw A Bear for the suggestion and the support, occasionally sending me new sightings and reminding me to put this video/article together. War is a serious business but sometimes small things like some multi-cam cat ears can remind us its humans fighting it.

While this definitely isn’t an April Fool, I did think it would be good to put something a little less serious than my usual content out today.

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Russia’s Missile-Armed Shahed Drones

Russia continues to rely on the simple but effective Shahed-136 (Geran 2) long-range one-way munition in its ongoing aerial campaign against Ukraine. Russian strikes, including waves of Shahed-136 (and decoys), have long been a nightly occurrence across Ukraine with the the drones delivering 50kg warheads against a range of targets. A Shahed-136 downed, on 4 January, by Ukrainian forces shows that Russia has again augmented the drone platform in an attempt to off-set Ukraine’s counter-Shahed efforts.

Downed MANPADS-Shahed (via social media)

Ukraine has been engaging Shaheds from both the ground and the air – with the Ukrainian air force’s helicopters and fast jets both being deployed to shoot down the Russian drones. While recently, newer aerial methods such as small, fast interceptor drones, have emerged traditional aerial platforms are still responsible for a considerable portion of Shaheds successfully downed.

In an effort to protect its Shaheds, Russia appears to have begun to arm the long-range drones with MANPADS – man portable air defense systems, which are typically shoulder-fired. Ukrainian military technology specialist Serhii ‘Flash’ Beskrestnov shared several photographs and a video showing a Shahed armed with a 9K333 Verba 72mm multi-spectral-guided missile. The 9K333 is Russia’s most modern MANPADS and while it is typically shoulder-fired to provide troops with very short range air defense capability, according to manufacturer KB Mashinostroyeniya it can also be mounted on aerial platforms. While KBM likely envisaged these platforms to be helicopters it appears that Russian Aerospace Forces technicians have been able to mount the small missile on Shaheds.

We’ve already seen MANPADS mounted on unmanned ground vehicles for remote use against drones and aircraft and we’ve also seen smaller drones equipped with firearms and rocket launchers.

Downed MANPADS-Shahed (via social media)

The drone was reportedly downed by elements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 412th Unmanned Systems Brigade (‘Nemesis’). The unit shared some footage filmed by a small quadcopter drone shows that the missile on this particular Shahed was unfired and was manufactured in 2025. It also shows the ad-hoc nature in which the launcher has been mounted on the drone. Many of the wires and connections appear to have been covered with insulation tape. There appear to be a pair of servo actuators which, from their positioning, appear to remove the launcher’s protective end-cap and actuate the Verba’s batteries, the firing controls were reportedly cable-tied so that the missile would launch as soon the target was locked by the seeker.

Geran-2/Shahed kamikaze drone with the Verba MANPADS (DIU)

Since deploying the Iranian-developed Shahed-136, in both propeller-driven (the Geran-2) and jet-powered (the Geran-3) variants Russia has continually developed the base design adding various payload variations, engines and defensive counter-measures. The MANPADS-Shahed was likely developed to lure valuable Ukrainian aircraft into range, up to 6km, before taking them by surprise and engaging them with a missile. The missile itself is mounted along the drone’s centre-line. A similar modification of the Shahed began to be seen back in December 2025 with Shaheds equipped with a Soviet R-60 air-to-air missile. There have been a number of interception videos featuring these R-60 equipped Shaheds and some wreckage of a number of the drones has been. The missiles are mounted on a launch rail.

Beskrestnov notes that the downed MANPADS-Shahed was equipped with “a camera and a radio modem. The missile is launched by the Shahed operator.” He went on to warn Ukrainian pilots to be more cautious when approaching Shaheds and to avoid attacking them head-on. On 12 January, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (DIU) shared an interactive computer-generated diagram of the modified Shahed drone, showing its various components and configuration on the War Sanctions website which documents the foreign components Russia uses to build its weapons.

It’s unclear how many Shaheds may have been outfitted with 9K333s or R-60s but these latest developments illustrate the evolutionary nature of the conflict’s drone technology and tactics.

Update – 30/3/26:

Another interception video featuring a Shahed equipped with an R-60 air-to-air missile.

Update – 31/4/26:

A downed Shahed/Geran-2 was found to be equipped with a decoy air to air missile, seemingly to encourage it’s interception according to Serhii ‘Flash’ Beskrestnov. The fake missile is clearly bolted to the body of the drone.

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Colt Canada C20 Rifles in Ukraine

Welcome to another research note, the new exclusive series of videos I’m sharing on Patreon spotlighting some of the ongoing research I’m doing into the weapons used in Ukraine. In these videos I share progress on topics that aren’t quite ready for a full video.

In 2020 Colt Canada introduced the C20, a 7.62x51mm marksman rifle. These have been adopted by both Canada and Denmark. Within the last couple of months a number of C20s have been seen in use in Ukraine.

A member of the Sniper Company of the Rubizh Brigade has been photographed with a C20. The brigade has posted photos of the individual and the rifle on a number of occasions from early October through to December. The rifle appears to have a Kahles K318i (3,5-18x50i) scope in a Spuhr ISMS mount and an what is likely an OSS HX-QD 762 suppressor. The rifle also appears to have a LaRue Tactical RISR Cheek Riser for its Magpul CTR MOE stock.

On 6 November, another image was shared by the UA Snipers page on Instagram, a community page which focuses on imagery of Ukrainian marksmen and snipers. The photo appears to have been taken at the range and while it doesn’t show the whole rifle the close up on the receiver allows us to see the Colt Canada CAGE number ‘2C085’. Also just visible is the Spuhr mount’s SP model number. The optic appears to be a high-end Schmidt and Bender from the PMII series.

The most recent image was posted on 2 December, showing a pair of Ukrainian combatants with C20s, the rifles both have HUXWRX suppressors but its difficult to identify the optic due to the image’s low resolution. Similarly, they appear to have the LaRue Tactical RISR cheek riser seen on the earlier example. The rifles’ optics appear to be mounted in Spuhr mounts and have thermal clip-ons ahead of the scopes. The affiliation of these combatants is unknown, they may be members of the SSO. When asked about the rifles, the page which shared the photo, noted that “impressions and reviews are good.”

The configuration of the rifles is very similar to those used by the Danish Armed Forces. Denmark adopted the C20 in September 2020. https://youtu.be/hejJU-IPEZ4 /

The number of sightings of the rifles is relatively small, but enough to confirm that a small number of Colt Canada C20 marksman rifles have been supplied to Ukraine and appear to have been issued to several units. The configuration and accessories of the rifles seem to suggest they originate from Denmark.

Special thanks to the guys at Streakingdelilah, Mike and Dikobraz for assistance.

Vintage Weapons in a Modern War: Browning Hi-Power In Ukraine

Canada confirmed in September 2024 that it would be supplying Ukraine with “10,500 surplus 9mm pistols from our inventory.” These pistols would be the long-serving Inglis-manufactured Hi-Powers, which Canada is replacing with SIG Sauer P320s, designated as the C22. Only recently has imagery of the Canadian Hi-Powers in Ukraine appeared.

Canadian manufacturer Inglis produced the Hi-Power under license during the Second World War. Just over 150,000 pistols are believed to have been manufactured from 1944 to October 1945. These include two major variants the No.1 and the No.2 (Mk1 and Mk1*). The No.1 had a rear tangent sight and a mounting slot for a holster-stock (features requested by the Chinese government who made the initial order for the pistols). The No.2 pistols had a fixed rear sight, mounted on a slight, curved rise at the rear of the slide. They also lacked the holster-stock slot. The No.2 pistols were subsequently adopted by the Canadian and UK militaries. The No.2 Mk1* pistols are currently being replaced by the P320 after a remarkable 80 years in service.

In July, a Browning Hi-Power was seen in a training range photo was shared by the Deputy Commander of the 411th Separate Regiment of the Unmanned Systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The profile of the Hi-Power is unmistakable, but the resolution makes it difficult to confirm the variant; it does not appear to be a Canadian-made pistol. The style of the rear sight doesn’t match that of an Inglis-manufactured pistol.

Later in July, another image of the Hi-Power was used as a cover image for a video clip of an interview with the 411th’s Deputy Commander.

At the time, these two photos represented the only imagery that suggested operational use of Browning Hi-Powers in Ukraine. While there were one or two other photos reportedly from Ukraine they were more likely collectors’ pieces.

In early November, Іван Савельєв, an armourer affiliated with the 3rd Assault Brigade, shared a photograph of a Canadian Hi-Power, which was provided to another Ukrainian unit. The serial number of the pistol, beginning ‘6T60XX’, dates its production to sometime between August and October 1945, when Hi-Power production at Inglis ceased.

He subsequently shared a video shooting a Canadian Hi-Power at the range. It’s unclear whether this pistol is one which has been delivered to his or another unit.

On 18 November, another photo of an Inglis Hi-Power was shared by another member of the 3rd Assault Brigade. The serial number is not visible but the pistol’s slide is unmistakably marked No.2 Mk1* and Inglis.

The condition of the Inglis pistols transferred to Ukraine is unclear. The pistols in the Canadian armed forces’ inventory were reportedly highly worn with suggestions that in recent years pistols had been cannibalised for parts. This is to be expected from pistols that were manufactured 80 years ago though it’s unclear if the 10,500 pistols announced by the Canadian government were pistols which were in Canadian armed forces’ regular inventory. While the amount of imagery of these pistols in Ukraine remains comparatively small, the numerous sightings confirm that Inglis-made Canadian Hi-Powers are in active service with the Ukrainian armed forces. While the pistols may have been produced some 80 years ago and are arguably obsolescent the Hi-Power’s influential design and its decent magazine capacity mean that it is still useful today.

Special thanks to Druzhe Orest for assistance.

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Chinese Heavy Machine Guns in Ukraine

A number of Chinese small arms and light weapons have turned up in Ukraine since the invasion in 2022, including Type 69 RPGs and Type 56 rifles. Another weapon that has been seen infrequently in Ukraine is the W-85 heavy machine gun. Chambered in the Russian 12.7×108mm round, the W85 uses a long stroke gas piston system, and with mount weighs around 39 kg (86lbs). The W85 is predominantly an export weapon and has seen use around the world.

The W85 was first seen in imagery from Ukraine in late October 2022, mounted on what appears to be a Fort Ranger pick-up. This technical was seen in a series of photos through November, with the gun mounted on a pintle. The source suggests it was used to shoot down Shahed-136/Geran-2 one-way munitions (long range kamikaze drones) when they first began to appear in southern Ukraine.

The next sighting came in January 2024, when a photo of Ukrainian Territorial Defence forces posing next to another technical was shared. The gun appears to be mounted on a locally-produced mount on the back of a Nissan Navara.

In February 2025, 122nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade shared photos of what they describe as a ‘mobile fire team’ equipped with a pick-up and a HMMWV. As well as an W85, an M2 Browning and a DShK. A month later at the start of March Weapons Illustrated shared a video showing a W85 being disassembled. The gun in the video can be identified as a Norinco CS/LM3 HMG from the receiver markings. This is interesting as the CS/LM3 is an export version of the W85 chambered in the 12.7x99mm NATO caliber. It is unclear if any of the other W85s sighted are also this variant and chambered, as imagery doesn’t enable us to positively identify them.

What isn’t clear is where the W85s or CS/LM3 originated from. One possible origin is that they were part of a seized shipment of small arms and light weapons supplied to the Houthis in Yemen by Iran, which was intercepted en route. It is worth noting, however, that no heavy machine guns have been seen in the released imagery of seized shipments.

On 22 May, the 122nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade shared photos of a W85 outfitted for engaging Russian UAVs like Shahed-136s. The gun appears to have a high-power light mounted.

On 25 October, Ukrainian photographer Mykyta Kuznetsov photographed a mobile anti-drone unit on the outskirts of Kharkiv. The unit was photographed with their pick-up mounted with a W85 on a pintle. The Ford Ranger’s bed has been removed and replaced with a circular platform to allow the gunner to move more easily when engaging moving targets.

The number of W85 in Ukraine is unknown but likely small. It is unclear how the guns seen in 2022 arrived in country or if any of those seen subsequently originated from the US’ transfer of seized Iranian arms shipments. It appears that the guns have largely been issued to Territorial Defence Force units, which are predominantly tasked with air defence operations against Russian Shahed one-way munitions.

Addendum: There has been at least one sighting of a Chinese Type 54, a clone of the DSHk, in Ukrainian service dating from March 2024.

Update – 17/11/25:

An additional photo of a W85, dating from 2023, posted by the 241st Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defence Force.

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Ukraine’s MANPADS-Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Following on from our recent examination of RPG-UGVs a new armed unmanned ground vehicle variant has appeared – the MANPADS-UGV. MANPADS or Man-Portable Air Defence Systems have been a key weapon during the war in Ukraine. They enable troops to engage drones and UAVs of various sizes as well as helicopters.

(LIBKOS/28th Mechanized Brigade)

On 4 August, photographers Libkos, shared a video showcasing an Igla-1 MANPADS mounted on a four-wheeled UGV operated by Ukraine’s 28th Mechanized Brigade. In an Instagram post, Libkos explained the idea behind the MANPADS-UGV:

“If before they were quite easy to shoot down with MANPADS, now Russian UAVs control every movement of our infantrymen and often do not even allow them to leave the trench. That is why the guys from @28ombr created this robotic platform. It independently guides and hits any large air target. The guys have already tested it in action and it already has one enemy helicopter on its account. So we are collecting 10 more such platforms. This is an effective and innovative weapon that is independently manufactured by the military from 28 Ombr.”

The available imagery, shared by Libkos and the brigade, shows the UGV being test-fired. The Igla is mounted on an angled mount, which seems to have a degree of elevation and traverse. There appears to be a motor and servo system attached to the front of the weapon to act on its trigger. Behind this is what may be a camera and transmitter/receiver. In part of the promo video a pair of operators are seen in a nearby trench, one wearing a headset for the UGV’s camera feed.

Ukrainian media outlet Defender reports that the MANPADS-UGV has been named “Alycha”.

(LIBKOS/28th Mechanized Brigade)

It’s difficult to tell how the system would be used in practice or how effective it would be. MANPADS such as Igla-1 use infrared homing and require the operator to track the target before launching. The operator has to visually detect the target, activate the power supply unit, aim at the target via the fore and rear sights and pull the trigger. While the operator doesn’t have to track the target once the missile is fired they must track it immediately prior to launch. How capable the UGV is of doing this is currently unclear. For the best image clarity and response time for identifying and tracking a target it would make sense for the UGV to utilise a fibre-optic control cable but there is no evidence of this in the available imagery.

It is unclear if the system can be equipped with different types of MANPADS. In theory the UGV could be mounted with Igla, Strela, Piorun or even Stinger, as such one variable to consider is the system’s engagement range. The Igla-1’s operational engagement range is 6km (3.5 miles) with an 11,000 feet engagement ceiling. Given Ukraine’s focus on defensive strong-points the gap between positions able to engage aerial threats with a MANPADS may be relatively wide. If small Ukrainian units are defending strong-points along a stretch of front they may have a limited embedded anti-air capability. A MANPADS team would have to expose itself to reach various points along the unit’s sector of the front so having a UGV which can be rapidly deployed makes sense.

(LIBKOS/28th Mechanized Brigade)

Nevertheless the concept is an interesting one. the 28th Mechanised Brigade claims that the system has already been used operationally and the UGV has successfully engaged an enemy helicopter. Verifiable proof of this kill has not yet been provided. There are no doubt useful applications for the system, such as patrolling an area, as a quick reaction asset and in removing the need for troops to leave cover to engage aerial threats.

Check out our other articles on UGV developments.

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Rare M60 Appearances in Ukraine

There are a lot of different types of general purpose machine guns in use in Ukraine and one of the most surprising to appear so far is the M60. The first appearance of an M60 in Ukraine came in September 2024, when the 23rd Mechanised Brigade shared an album of training photos which included an individual firing an M60D.

A month later the same brigade shared another photograph of the M60D. The M60D is usually mounted on helicopters as a door gun and as such it has been adapted with no stock or traditional rear sight, instead it has a pair of rear spade grips and a large ring sight. It’s unclear how many M60Ds are in Ukraine or where the guns originated from as a number of potential donor countries operate M60Ds as door guns. It may be the case that a donor nation provided the gun aboard a donated helicopter, we have previously seen French AANF-1 GPMGs appear in Ukraine – likely supplied with VAB APCs. Alternatively, the gun(s) may simply have been provided by a donor for whom it was surplus to requirements and ready for disposal.

Another sighting of an M60D came in May 2025, when the 65th Mechanized Brigade shared a series of photographs of a machine gun team training with one of the guns. Sadly, no markings are visible to confirm if this might be the same gun as previously seen with the 23rd Mechanised Brigade.

The M60D is not the easiest variant to utilise in a ground role with the absence of a stock to shoulder the weapon making it somewhat difficult to aim and keep on target while firing. It does have a folding carry handle but it also had an exposed trigger linkage which is far from ideal for ground use. The best use for this variant would probably be as a pintle-mounted an anti-air gun.

Most recently a new variant of the M60 was seen in a photo posted, on 18 July, by the 20th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems “K-2”. The gun appears to be either an M60E3 or an M60E4, with what appears to be a 22 inch barrel, the first ground role variant to be seen in-country. As with the M60Ds it is unclear where this M60 may have originated from, there are only a small number of nations which operate the weapons which may have donated it. Elements of the Czech Republic’s special operations forces operate E4s in small numbers but its unclear if this is the source of the gun seen in the recent photo.

It remains unclear just how many of the various variants of M60 are on the ground in Ukraine and where they came from but it is one of the weapons that I’ll continue to track, if you spot any let me know!

Update 12/10/25:

Serhii Filimonov, a member of the 1st Assault Regiment (Da Vinci Wolves), has shared several photos that appear to include an M60E4.

There is also a short video of him firing the weapon. Below is a still from the video.

Update – 17/11/25:

On 14 November, Raven Group, affiliated with the Ukrainian Directorate of Intelligence, shared a serious of range photos featuring an M60E4 (in what appears to be the Mk43 Mod 0 configuration). [H/t to Praise the Steph].

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HK SFP9 Pistols In Ukraine

While pistols may not feature heavily on combat footage from the ongoing war in Ukraine, sidearms continue to be a key piece of equipment for many combatants. Many different types of pistol are in use in Ukraine, everything from the venerable TT-33 and Makarov to Glock 19s and Ukrainian-made Forts. Many nations supporting Ukraine have provided pistols as aid, one of these is Germany, in this article/video we’ll look at the supply and issuing of the Heckler & Koch SFP9.

Introduced in 2014, the SFP9, or VP9 as its known in the US, is a 9x19mm striker-fired polymer-framed pistol. It uses the ubiquitous short recoil, tilting barrel action and feeds from 15, 17 or 20 round magazines and is in service with numerous law enforcement agencies and the Lithuanian armed forces. Before we examine some of the sighting of the pistols in Ukraine it’s also worth noting that HK pistols, though rare, have been commercially available in Ukraine for some time and some of the SFP9s we’ll discuss in this article/video may have been procured privately by combatants.

As early as March 2023, the German government announced its intentions to provide Ukraine with 500 HK SFP9 pistols. The delivery of this first batch of pistols was announced on 16 March. Despite this I haven’t been able to find visual evidence of the pistols presence in Ukraine until February 2024, when a photo of a SFP9 OR – or ‘optics ready’ pistol was shared by a combatant. The pistol has an Olight weapon light and a red dot.

In July 2024, a Ukrainian combatant, believed to be attached to the SSO’s 73rd Naval Special Operations Center, shared a photograph showing him carrying a SFP9 as well as a Daniel Defense carbine.

In October 2024, the confirmed number of pistols provided to Ukraine jumped significantly to 3,500, indicating significant transfers of SFP9s to Ukraine. Following this the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR MO)’s Revanche International unit, subordinate to Revanche Tactical Group shared an instagram story on 9 November, showing one of the pistols at a range. The pistol, however, is marked VP9 rather than SFP9. VP9 is the US commercial name for the pistol.

On 11 November a member of the HUR’s Kraken Regiment shared a photo of another VP9 mounted with a Veridian X5L weapon light. A month later on 19 December, another Ukrainian combatant shared a range photo of a trio of pistols including a Russian MP-443 ‘Grach’, a Glock 17 Gen 4 and a new SFP9.

On 25 January 2025, ORKOVNET, the YouTube channel of the Ukrainian Orkov gunstore, shared a short range video of a VP9 marked pistol noting that the pistols were now in Ukrainian service.

An Instagram page affiliated with the HUR’s Special Purpose Unit “Timur” shared a series of photos from a range session on 3 February. One of the photos included an SFP9 SD with a threaded suppressor-ready barrel.

On 19 March a combatant with a reconnaissance and UAV team within the Special Operations Forces of the HUR MO shared a photo of a holstered SFP9 alongside a SIG P320.

A member of HUR MO Timur’s Spectre 33 unit posted several photos in early Spring 2025 featuring an SFP9 OR, with one photo showing mounted with a A-Tec PMM6 suppressor.

In April, a Japanese volunteer with one of the HUR International Legion teams shared photos of a new VP9-marked pistol. He noted that while he liked the pistol he preferred Glock triggers and he confirmed that his pistol was shipped with 17 round magazines.

On 6 April, a member of the GUR’s Revanche Tactical Group / Advanced Combat Group shared a photo showcasing a host of small arms from their armoury including new HK433s, HK416s, a UAR-10, CZ and Glock pistols and a pair of HK SFP9s.

A week later DW News shared a report on a Ukrainian camp where adolescents can receive training. From the small arms seen in the short report, including an HK416A8 and an SFP9 indicate the camp may have been run by HUR personnel.

Later in April an Instagram page affiliated with the Revanche Tactical Group shared a photo of a holstered SFP9 and another photo of one of the pistols at the range alongside a Daniel Defense carbine was shared on 23 April by the unit’s medical team.

Another probable SFP9 can be seen in a photo, posted on 6 May, by a volunteer aid organisation, in the photo members of a HUR MO International Legion unit receive gas masks somewhere in the
Zaporizhzhia region. Most recently, the pistols featured in a HUR MO International Legion training video posted on 10 May. The video shows a pair of combatants firing SFP9s at the range.

Iin mid-July, members of the 6th Separate SSO Ranger Regiment were photographed training with what appear to be SFP9s. At the end of July, a member of the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center shared a video and several photos of a brand new 2025-production SFP9 OR with a threaded barrel and suppressor-height sights. Unlike the other pistols seen so far, this SFP9 appears to have an OD green frame. From the video, it seems the pistol shipped with a 17 and a 20-round magazine as well as an Aimpoint ACRO P2 and a Streamlight TLR-8X. Several days later this was followed by a photo from another member of the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center who shared a photo of a pair of OD Green SFP9 ORs both with Aimpoint ACROs and one with a Streamlight (possibly the pistol seen earlier).

The pistols were not taken from German military stores, instead the deliveries were drawn from industry stocks and financed by German government funds. This is supported by the presence of VP9-marked pistols which indicate some of the pistols shipped were pulled from HK production that was planned for the US market. On the 17 April, the German government announce it would no longer be publicly updating its list of aid to Ukraine. As of April 2025, Germany has provided 3,500 HK SFP9s to Ukraine.

It appears from the available visual evidence that at least a portion of the 3,500 HK pistols have been provided to Ukraine’s HUR MO direct action teams with some also appearing in the hands of elements of the SSO. Both VP9 and SFP9-marked guns have been seen in-country with at least a portion of them being SFP9 ORs, with slides cut for mounting optics. Given the very infrequent imagery of operational pistol use it is difficult to confirm uses of the SFP9s in the field with the majority of imagery available stemming from training sessions.

Special thanks to Mathias, Hao, deaidua.org, & Dikobraz for their help with this video.

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