Tag: OSINT

Russia’s Secret Weapon: Hoverboards

Over the past 12 months various Russian units have been developing and deploying their own home-made, makeshift ground kamikazes. These have been made out of commercially available ‘hoverboards’, hoverboard is a bit of a misnomer but its easier than saying two-wheeled, balancing board. In Russian they’re known as гироскутеры or ‘gyroscooters’.

Russian military workshops in various sectors have developed remote-controlled ground drones; in military terms, these are a very basic sort of unmanned ground vehicle. Russian forces have deployed them to carry a variety of payloads, including: smoke generators, supplies, remotely detonated explosive devices and even mine rollers.

In the simplest terms, the workshops constructing the Hoverboard UGVs typically take two commercially available self-balancing hoverboards and bolt them together. They retrofit a remote control receiver and connections to interact with the hoverboard’s motors.

A small Russian Kamikaze drone, 2023 (via social media)

Experimentation with unmanned ground vehicles by both sides has been ongoing since 2022 though it has been largely outpaced by developments in aerial drones the UGVs have found their niches and continued to evolve. One of the earliest videos of a UGV which likely utilised hoverboard components I was able to find dates to mid-March 2023, when a Ukrainian team deployed a UGV loaded with a MON-90 and additional explosives in the Bakhmut area. Similarly, at the same time Russian units were also developing small kamikaze UGVs such as the ∆V-04, a one-way UGV which delivers a TM-62 (or similar) to a target. Developed by the Russian Avtobot group the drone appears to utilise hoverboard components.

On 7 May, a small Russian Telegram page, Stavropol Fighter, posted a workshop video showing what the caption describes as: “a combat radio-controlled vehicle (BRM-1)” which has a range of up to 1km and can be used in a variety of roles including casualty evacuation, one-way munition and the launching of anti-personnel mines. The post also called for donations of components including: “Old scooters, gyro scooters, video cameras, transceivers, etc.”

A couple of months later in July, the same channel showed another UGV similar to the BRM-1 seen in May, equipped with six RPGs (though no control system is visible) and its own little anti-drone (cope) cage. It was also seen in another photo posted on the 27 July. A day later they also shared a video showing the construction of a casualty evacuation UGV based on a pair of Hoverboards.

Hoverboards donated by Russian civilians (via social media)

In September, another video surface which shows a pair of hoverboards with their casings removed, connected by a pair of metal braces and a board of wood which the unit’ s batteries and a control box have been mounted. In the video a Russian individual explains it can be used to carry mines up to an approximate range of 5km.

While developments no doubt continued the next reference to the use of hoverboards I came across was a video posted at the end of February 2024, calling for the donation of old, unwanted hoverboards with the caption noting [machine translated] “It doesn’t have to be new! Old, broken, unnecessary, lying in the closet! This will help our team and our country bring the victory closer!”

On 11 May, the Russian Telegram page, Two Majors, also made a request for old hoverboards, with the video showing a number of hoverboards adapted in various ways, one had an outrigger with caster wheels fitted, while another much more sophisticated UGV has combined three hoverboards together and added tracks. The caption for the video read [machine translated]: “do you have an old hoverboard gathering dust somewhere and want to help the Army? Send it to us! All gyroscooters will be regularly sent to the Front, and there, on site, they will be converted into self-propelled units. Several weeks later the channel shared a video of donated hoverboards arriving and being unloaded.

At the start of June, Russian media outlet Sputnik shared a video showing a small logistics UGV carrying a payload of mortar rounds. The drone appears to be utilising components from hoverboards. The video concludes with a drone feed video showing the UGV being used as a kamikaze, detonating on a treeline position.

A typical hoverboard UGV being assembled (via social media)

On 6 June, Russian media outlet Izvestia reported on a small logistics UGV made to carry ammunition and supplies to forward positions. The video shows a small UGV is based on the components of a pair of hoverboards but has larger wheels, a cargo space and new control receivers. The UGV was built by members of the 110th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade of the then-1st Donetsk Army Corps.

On 15 June, Two Majors posted a short video showcasing the testing of what they jokingly call a ‘combat cockroach’ showing it travelling over rough ground – interestingly, it appears to be somewhat centrally articulated allowing the axles to traverse uneven ground. The caption notes that it can carry “up to 100 kg” over around 2km but some refinement is still needed. The video shows the drone with a UDSh smoke generator mounted, these share the same dimensions as TM-62 anti-tank mines.

On 22 June, the same Telegram channel shared a video showing the disassembly and modification of donated hoverboards. The video shows Russian technicians removing casings, rewiring the boards and testing connections and motors.

A look inside a Russian tracked drone showing Hoverboard components inside (via social media)

A day later, on 23 June, the channel shared another video of a completed hoverboard drone with a raised cargo bed with a UDSh smoke generator mounted. The video shows the UGV travelling down a track and then the UDSh being remotely ignited. This use case is interesting as it could be used to screen other hoverboard UGVs with explosive payloads or supplies, or cover an infantry assault.

In early July, another video, shared by Two Majors shows a batch of five completed and painted Hoverboard UGVs ready for use as kamikaze drones. During the same video we get a rare look inside a larger tracked UGV and we can see that they also use hoverboard components. The Two Majors groups’ website also added a page about the Kamikaze Hoverboards. On 7 July, they shared a video of the drones being painted using foliage to create a camouflage pattern.

Towards the end of July, the channel shared two more videos showing a more complete picture of how the Kamikaze Hoverboards are built, showing the construction, the testing and the test detonation of one of the drones. In the videos we see the hoverboards being disassembled, their wiring being accessed and the addition of connecting struts added between the two hoverboards. The test footage then shows a drone covering rough ground and going along a road before seemingly detonating next to a vehicles.

On 9 August, the group shared a video of a delivery of more donated Hoverboards with the caption stating [machine translated]: “Gyro scooters continue to arrive for kamikaze cars from all over Russia. We pick them up from the pick-up point in large batches and immediately take them to production. More than one such batch has already arrived for assembly.” The same day they confirmed that the first Hoverboard drones had reached combat units.

A selection of Two Majors’ hoverbaord-based ground drones, including: Reece, cargo and kamikaze variants (via social media)

A video posted on the 11 August by the Archangel Legion Foundation nicely illustrates the variety of different models of Hoverboards which have been donated and procured for conversion. On 10 October, Two Majors shared a 1 minute 48 second long video showing the Hoverboard Kamikazes in action with a series of drone videos showing the UGVs travelling to targets and detonating. A day later, on 11 October, the ‘Reliable Rear’ Foundation shared a video showing a drone travel towards a treeline before detonating. The caption notes that the drone has been used for demining and that they have constructed six of the drones from 17 donated hoverboards. This illustrates that there are numerous Russian organisations and workshops constructing the Hoverboard drones.

In a 17 October post, Two Majors noted that the 33rd Separate Rear Logistics Battalion in the Sobinsky District of Vladimir Oblast had been actively collecting Hoverboards with the accompanying video showing at least 21 hoverboards of various models.

Later in October, Two Majors unveiled a new development for the Hoverboard UGVs, a mine-clearing variant designed to clear anti-personnel mines using a small roller mounted ahead of the UGV. At the very end of the month, the channel shared a video of a Hoverboard Kamikaze with an incendiary payload deployed against what the post claims is a Ukrainian position.

The following month the channel shared further footage of what is suggested to be a combat deployment of the Hoverboard UGVs in the one-way munition role. The UGVs appear to have been deployed by Russia’s 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade with the footage showing two kamikaze drone detonations. In both clips the UGVs’ progress is followed by a video feed from an overhead drone, it is seen travelling across open ground towards a treeline before detonating.

On 11 October, testing footage of a pair of small UGV was shared by the Russian telegram channel FPV_vyZOV. The clip showed two small tracked UGVs being tested in some shallow water. The video’s caption notes that the majority of the components for the drone originated in Russia but that motors and components from Hoverboards were acquired from China. The drone is reportedly able to carry up to 100kg of payload.

It appears that the hoverboards have also enabled the continued development of more robust, specialised UGVs such as a surveillance UGV which is reportedly based on the technology and parts of hoverboards but has a new chassis. This was seen in a video shared by the Two Majors channel on the 12 October, the detailed 2 minute video gives a good look at the UGV from multiple angles, showing the UGV and its sensor mast up close. The drone does not use the actual bodies and motor-wheels of the Hoverboards directly, instead it uses components from the boards, it also features a telescoping mast which can be raised and lowered.

BRM-1 seen in May 2023, equipped with six RPGs and its own little anti-drone cage (via social media)

On the 8 November, Two Majors shared video showing the manufacture of the drones, showing piles of components and Hoverboards being modified with new wheels, motors and augmentations to their wiring. The video ends by showing several different variations of UGV all based on the hoverboards. These include UGVs with cargo beds, UGVs designed to carry mines and explosive devices, a mine-clearing variant and a UGV with a sensor mast for reconnaissance.

In a video thanking people for their Hoverboard donations, posted on 22 November, the same collection of Hoverboard UGVs is seen. The video gives us a longer look at the different variants developed by Two Majors. The variants include the reconnaissance UGV, a couple of UGVs with a mine roller for demining, five cargo-carrying variants and four capable of carrying anti-tank mines or smoke generators.

A photograph and a short clip posted to the WagNer Сапëр Telegram channel on 10 February 2025, showed the assembly and testing of another Hoverboard UGV. In the imagery, we can see the UGV without its top cover with its battery, motors and circuits exposed.

A week or so later another Russian channel shared a video showing the collection of donated hoverboards ready for conversion. This indicates that Russian efforts to produce these home-made UGVs are ongoing in a number of regions, personnel are seen loading three hoverboards onto the back of a truck.

On 6 March, Ukrainian journalist Yuri Butusov shared a video from men of the Russian 177th Marine Regiment which showed a logistics variant of the Hoverboard UGV with cargo bed. This is another example of a UGV which uses hoverboard components on a custom built chassis rather than simply bolting several units together. Text in the video appeals for more scooters, in any condition, for use as parts to build more of the cargo UGVs.

In late April a video of Russian troops laughing as a combatant on a hoverboard pushes a two-wheeled cart full of supplies was shared. The fact that the hoverboard appears to have been attached to the cart suggests that this configuration may have found some practical use.

A typical ‘hoverboard’ drone configuration, with its top covers removed. The mine or smoke projector sits on a board mounted a pair of connecting struts (via social media)

Into May 2025, videos of Hoverboard UGVs continued to be shared on Russian social media channels. On 1 May, a montage of combat footage showing the detonation of a series of the UGVs was shared. While the blasts are substantial, there is no battle damage assessment footage shared to examine the UGVs’ effect downrange despite this the UGVs offer a safer method of delivering substantial explosive payloads to enemy positions without exposing troops. The start of the montage shows a pair of hoverboards bolted together with a TM-62 anti-tank mine as payload. Depending on the variant TM-62s mine are packed with 7.5kg (17lbs) of explosive and is normally centrally fuzed by a mechanical MVCh-62 pressure fuze. It is a High-Explosive Blast (HE-Blast) mine typically with a TNT filling. In this case they are likely command detonated electrically.

Small unmanned ground vehicles are proliferating on both sides, be it the hoverboard-based drones or other small wheeled or tracked UGVs. There appears to be more than a handful of Ukrainian versions of the Hoverboard UGVs too, several are listed on Ukraine’s new Brave1 Market site. The Bombetel-M is an explosive-carrying UGV which uses a hoverboard with a third wheel attached for stability. It replaces the board’s tyres with metal wheels for improved traction and can carry a TM-62 mine. While Kamikaze UGVs like the Smiley (Smailik) and the Trimmer (Тримінер) clearly utilise hoverboard parts its also likely that other Ukrainian UGVs also utilise elements from hoverboards as they are a readily available source of key components. Small llogistics UGVs like the Horse-S, Cockroach 1K and Carpenter also appear to use hoverboard parts.

More recently on 5 May, a Russian telegram channel, VictoryDrones, shared additional photos hoverboard-based kamikaze drones showing a UGV mounte with a TM-62 mine. The caption notes that these drones have good “stability due to gyroscopes and low cost, which allows them to be used en masse.” The caption also suggests that the “drones can move across rough terrain on the front lines faster than any other ground drones.”

The HUR’s new LEGIT tracked UGV with cargo bed (via social media)

Intriguingly, at the end of June, the HUR’s [Main Directorate of Intelligence] branch of the International Legion announced the production and deployment of a new small UGV called “LEGIT”. The small tracked UGV clearly utilises hoverboard components with the video’s caption explaining that it was co-developed by operators and engineers from the HUR Legion’s Cyclone unmanned systems team in collaboration with specialists. The video shows the LEGIT drone being used to pull cargo in a towed trailer, another is drone being loaded with an explosive payload and driven up to a building and detonated. Finally, the most interesting variant is armed with a pair of Bulgarian Bullspike RPGs on an articulated mount which can be raised and lowered. The video concludes showing the RPG-UGV test firing at a building.

LEGIT mounted with a pair of RPGs (via social media)

This survey is by no means exhaustive but I have spent over a year tracking the development and proliferation of these UGVs as they represent some of the most basic but useful ground drones developed during the war.

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Netherlands Sends New C7NLDs In Ukraine

On 10 January, Іван Савельєв, a Ukrainian veteran associated with the 3rd Assault Brigade ‘Azov’ (possibly as head of the brigade’s artillery and small arms workshop) though he is seen here wearing a black GUR patch, shared a video firing what appears to be a Dutch C7NLD.

Іван Савельєв firing a C7NLD in Jan. 2025 (via social media)

We’ve previously seen large number of Dutch Diemaco (now Colt Canada) C7s in use in Ukraine. The First Dutch C7s appeared in the summer of 2022, and many continue to appear in use with various Ukrainian units. It’s estimated that the Netherlands sent as many as 10,000 C7-pattern rifles to Ukraine, making it one of the most common AR15/M16-pattern rifles in theatre. Until now, however, the most recent, upgraded version of the Netherlands’ C7s, the C7NLD, had not been seen in Ukraine.

The C7NLD upgrade began to be rolled out in 2010. It included a new CAA stock, ambidextrous controls, Colt Canada’s Integrated Upper Receiver, a free-floating barrel, and a RIS rail forend with a polymer extension and a grip pod foregrip. The rifles were also issued with Lancer L5AWM polymer magazines.

Since the first sighting in January, a further sighting of a C7NLD came in mid-March, in a photo of kit and equipment shared by personnel believed to be with the 14th Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces. The C7NLD can be seen top right with a visible Dutch Army rack QR code on the magazine well. The rifle appears to have a Lancer magazine, an Aimpoint CompM4 optic and its fitted with a MagPul CRT stock, which is also used by the Dutch.

Kit layout photo from 14th Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces personnel (via social media)

On 7 April, a social media post from the 1st Assault Battalion, 3rd Assault Brigade, included a combatant armed with a C7NLD in a group photo, the rest of the personnel appear to have CZ Bren 2s and a UAR-15 pattern rifle. A day later another individual from the 3rd Assault Brigade appeared in a short video while holding a C7NLD.

Members of 1st Assault Battalion, 3rd Assault Brigade, included a combatant armed with a C7NLD (via social media)

On 22 April, a photograph shared by a Ukrainian serviceman, possibly another member of the 3rd Assault Brigade, featured a C7NLD equipped with a magnified optic and a thermal clip on, which appears to be a Leonardo DRS FWS-I.

Recently, on 10 May, Mad Bears Group, of the 225th Assault Regiment, who are likely part of the Pentagon Drone Battalion, shared a post on telegram announcing a recruitment drive. The photo features four members of the unit all equipped with C7NLDs. It is unclear when or where this photo was taken. It is possible they may have been taken during training in the Netherlands. Again all of the rifles have the Dutch Army’s rack QR codes on the magazine wells and all are equipped with the Aimpoint CompM4s.

Members of the 225th Assault Regiment with C7NLDs (via social media)

A number of photographs of Ukrainian personnel training in the Netherlands have emerged with a number of social media posts showing individuals training with C7NLDs. These date from between April and September 2024.

On 18 May, the Mad Bears Group shared a second photograph featuring C7NLDs, the photo was seemingly taken at a range in Ukraine, supporting the likelihood of the previous photo also being taken in Ukraine.

While C7NLDs continue to be rarely seen in Ukraine it appears that sufficient quantity of the rifles have arrived for them to be issued operationally. It’s fairly uncommon for service rifles that are still in use to be transferred to Ukraine so it’s intriguing to see the C7NLDs, which have apparently been transferred in their issue configuration with Aimpoint optics. So far the majority of the available imagery suggests that at least a portion of the rifles transferred by the Dutch are now part of the 3rd Assault Brigade’s inventory.

Update – 5/6/25:

In a 2024 United Nations Register of Conventional Arms report the Netherlands confirmed the transfer of 450 C7NLD rifles to Ukraine. Along with an additional 345 HK416s.

Additionally, another of the rifles appeared in a photograph shared by a member of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment (Da Vinci Wolves).

Update – 25/06/25:

A combatant from the 3rd Airborne Assault Battalion of the 82nd Separate Airborne Assault Brigade was photographed during an awards parade with a C7NLD. The photo was shared by the brigade on the 25 June.

In a video from the same ceremony it’s clear that there are two combatants with C7NLDs.

Update – 23/7/25:

Two combatants are pictured with C7NLDs in a 22nd July post by the 82nd Air Assault Brigade. (H/t – Mathias).

Update – 5/10/25:

A Ukrainian Staff Sergeant shared a photo of a field stripped C7NLD, the condition of the rifle appears to be excellent. The rifle has a Magpul CTR stock in FDE rather than the FAB Defense stock seen on other C7NLDs, while this may have been added in-country, both are in Dutch service. This is the second CTR-stocked C7NLD I’ve seen in country.

Thank you to WarIllustrated and Dikobraz for their help tracking down some of the imagery for this article/video. Thank you also to Jeff2146 for help with imagery and sharing the UNRCA report. Militaryland.net was invaluable for tracing and checking some unit affiliations.

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Has Italy Sent Beretta AR70/90s To Ukraine?

From imagery shared by Ukrainian armed forces personnel over recent months it appears that Italy has provided an unconfirmed number of Beretta SC70/90 5.56x45mm rifles.

The SC70/90 is part of the AR70/90 family of rifles; the SC model is distinct for its side-folding stock. The weapons are gas-operated and use a rotating bolt and a long-stroke gas piston system. They are select-fire and capable of semi-automatic, burst and fully-automatic fire. They are typically equipped with a bipod and carry handle and weigh in at 4.05kg or 8.9lbs.

The AR70 entered service in the early 1970s. The AR70/90 series improved on the AR70 and has been in service with the Italian armed forces since the 1990s, it is currently being replaced by the Beretta ARX-160. We’ve already seen evidence of the presence of other European rifles of a similar vintage such as the Spanish CETME-L, check out our video/article on those here.

The first sighting of an SC70/90 came on 10 January, when Іван Савельєв, a veteran associated with several units including the 3rd Assault Brigade ‘Azov’, possibly as head of the brigade’s small arms workshop, shared a video of himself firing the rifle in bursts from prone with its bipod deployed.

On 13 January, Савельєв, a fabricator, mechanic and gunsmith who founded R&D company Armorum Solutions, shared several videos of himself firing an SC70/90 at the range. In the first, he has a bayonet fixed and the bipod still mounted but the carrying handle has been removed from the top of the receiver.

A member of the 3rd Assault Brigade shared a short video, via Instagram stories, on 24 January 2025, firing a Beretta SC70/90 from the hip. When asked what he thought of it, he described it as an ‘old unit’. There is no evidence he has used the weapon on operations, and it may have been brought out to the range as a curiosity.

On 16 February, Савельєв shared another video of himself firing the rifle, this time the carry handle has been removed and an ELCAN Spectre, likely supplied by the Netherlands, has been mounted on the SC70/90’s upper receiver.

Speaking to an international volunteer with one of Ukraine’s brigades who has recently been issued an SC70/90 for training, he noted: “It has too much parts. You cannot strip it without pliers or a bullet. Aiming is also way harder than with an AK. It’s also heavier than an AK… Overall, its not a bad gun, I just don’t like it. The sights are not good, not easy to read like an AK. The foldable buttstock is a big plus.” He explained that he decided to remove the bipod and carry handle saying the bipod is ‘useless’ and the carry handle obscures the sight. He also added that while his unit has been issued them during current training some soldiers do use them on operations. On 19 March he shared a video of how to field strip the SC70/90 on his YouTube channel.

Most recently, on 8 April, a member of the 3rd Assault Brigade shared a photograph of himself posing with a SC70/90 complete with carry handle and bipod.

While the number of sightings of SC70/90s in Ukraine has so far been small, they are undoubtedly in country and in use. There haven’t yet been any sightings of fixed stock AR70/90s. From a survey of the limited imagery available, it appears that they are in service with the 3rd Assault Brigade and possibly other units. It seems that while they’re in inventory with Ukrainian units they may be most regularly issued to personnel during training, this is unsurprising, as the supply spare parts available for the rifles may be limited and there are other better-suited rifles available for operations. The SC70/90s presence in Ukraine serves to illustrate once again just how many different small arms are now in Ukrainian service.

Thanks to Recon UAV and Weapons_Illustrated for help sourcing imagery for this video.

Update – 1/5/25:

Update – 14/7/25:

Members of the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment’s ATGM company were photographed during training. One combatant was photographed holding a Beretta SC70/90.

Update – 30/7/25:

Personnel from the 2nd Artillery Battalion of the 3rd Assault Brigade were seen armed with SC70/90s during a social media video. (H/T Jeff).

Update – 4/8/25:

A group photo of the 3AB gunners seen in the earlier video. All four combatants have SC70/90s.

Update – 20/10/25:

The 3rd Army Corps posted a series of photos of troops with AR70/90s on 12 October. The troops appear to be gunners opperating one of the 3rd Assault Brigade’s self-propelled howitzers.

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3D Printed AK ‘Buckshot’ Anti-Drone Rounds

Back in December I published an article/video examining the Russian practice of creating a rudimentary anti-drone round from a 5.45x39mm cartridge case and a handful of ball bearings (BBs). The BBs are encapsulated in shrink-wrap tub ing and then loaded in the cartridge case like a conventional bullet. This was seen to be relatively effective with evidence of multiple workshops independently producing the ammunition.

The ad-hoc production of the ammunition has been seen in locations ranging from kitchen tables to well-laid out large workshops. The rounds have also been tested by Ukrainian forces and there has been some interest in replicating the buckshot cartridges but its unclear if this has come to fruition as yet, shotguns appear to be more prevalent for Ukrainian forces.

3D printing has become a key element in so many aspects of the ongoing war so it was inevitable that it would be leveraged in making this ad-hoc anti-drone ammunition. It appears that several Russian workshops have now developed 3D-printed sabots to replace the shrink-wrap tubing. It appears that this move towards 3D printed sabots is an effort to prevent the barrel being fouled by plastic from the tubing. This is an issue which has been highlighted in a number of posts including a bore scope video published by Ukrainians who tested the home-made rounds. The shrink-wrap likely disintegrates in the barrel leaving behind polymer residues whereas the 3D printed sabots seem to remain intact until they leave the barrel.

The first sighting of the 3D printed sabots came on 23 February, when a Russian telegram channel shared a video showing the printing and assembly of the anti-drone ammunition with 3D printers printing a bullet-shaped sabot. The design and production was attributed to the assault detachment of the 33rd regiment of the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division. The design consists of a two-piece clam shell-like design which encapsulates the BBs and can be loaded into a 5.45 cartridge case like a conventional projectile. The video shows three 3D printers printing the sabots which hold 4-rounds each. It then shows how the standard cartridge’s projectile is pulled from the case, the sabots are loaded with BBs and then the sabot is tapped down into the case.

The video then shows an individual firing full auto at a target, said to be 75m away away – thought the distance is difficult to verify. It then cuts to a shot of the rifle disassembled and the individual filming states that after four magazines there is no plastic residue in the gas system, barrel or action.

On 26 February, another Russian Telegram channel, Time of Terror, which describes itself as run by a special forces drone group, shared a photograph of a cartridge loaded with sabot with the two halves of an empty sabot next to it, stating that they had been asked to develop the sabot by a subscriber and that tests were ongoing. The nose of sabot has a notably less pronounced point compared to the first example. A day later the same Telegram channel shared another photograph of the ammunition this time with a five-BB sabot, next to a bottle of Crosman copperhead BBs.

Several days later, on 2 March, a short video showing a version of the sabot without the pointed nose was shared. It appears that the point of the sabot’s nose has been filed down. The video’s captions reads [machine translated]: “Based on the feedback, certain modifications were made. After checking them and collecting feedback from other units, we will stop at the most working version.” The video shows a few bursts being fired and several hits on a target down range. The video appears to have been filmed somewhat close to the frontline.

Later the same day another photo of some of the ammunition was shared, notably with the sabots seated at different depths. The caption mentioned the changes that have been made based on feedback [machine translated]: “In the new version, the diameter of the bullet base was reduced by 0.2mm and a chamfer was added instead of rounding, the diameter of the first solid cut-ring was reduced, which ensures easier pressing.”

On 4 March, the same Telegram channel shared a video demonstrating the assembly of one of the rounds. The video shows the pulling of a bullet and then the filling of the sabot with five BBs before the two halves of the sabot are pressed together and placed in the cartridge and tapped home with a hammer. The video’s caption reads [machine translated]: “At present, we observe significant potential in the application of the proposed modernization. Tests are ongoing, collecting data, which is necessary for forming a final conclusion on this issue. It is proposed to begin developing a prototype of equipment for an accelerated pressing procedure.” This would suggest the use of a conventional bullet press rather than a pair of pliers and hammer.

The video also includes footage of testing showing the ammunition being fired at a small rectangle of cardboard. The first two strings have a horizontal spread but with most of the BBs appearing to hit the target. A series of bursts shows the more hits on the target. The engagement range appears to be around 20-25 metres.

On the same day they also shared a short clip of a PKM machine gun being loaded with a belt holding three rounds of anti-drone 7.62x54mmR ammunition. Not much can be seen in the video but its likely that the 7.62 sabots can hold six or seven BBs. The caption notes [machine translated]: “In parallel, tests are being conducted for the modernized rifle bullet 7.62… Three rounds were fired in single mode. Results will be added later, looking ahead I will say that there is potential.”

The usefulness of having a machine gun with a belt of the anti-drone buckshot ammunition is somewhat debatable, while perhaps not ideal for a patrol or an assault having a belt of anti-drone ammunition while defending a position may be useful. A post from 8 March, shows the development of a loading punch and the use of nail varnish on the nose of the round as a means of adhering the nose of the sabot together preventing it parting. The most recent post from Time of Terror features couple of photos of a large batch of five-BB sabots. The caption states: “made a batch of 10,000. The test variants showed a very satisfactory result. I am waiting for further feedback and hope to put an end to this process as soon as possible.”

The evolution of these makeshift anti-drone rounds has moved rapidly, with the shift to 3D printing in some areas leading to the potential production of thousands of rounds. While printing may expedite one element of production the loading of the sabots and the seating of them in cartridge cases remains a bottle neck in the manufacturing of the rounds.

Update – 3/4/25

Another version of the 3D printed sabots has appeared on line in a video showing a Ukrainian combatant from the . Printed as once piece the sabot has five recesses for BBs. A video shows the firing of three rounds from an AK-74 pattern rifle. A target is shown approximately 5 metres away with a pattern of impacts from the anti-drone rounds.

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Ukraine’s Fixed Wing Gun Drone

Since our last article/video on gun-armed drones in September 2024, both sides have continued to develop the technology. We’ll be taking a look at the latest develeopments in gun-armed rotor-powered drones in a future article/video, in this video we’re going to take a look at the latest development: a gun-armed fixed wing UAV.

The first imagery of the ‘ZigZag’ UAV developed by Ukrainian drone manufacturer Sky Defenders was shared on social media 15 March. Shared on Sky Defenders’ official social media channels the minute long video shows a fixed wing UAV being launched, once in the sky the video cuts to an onboard camera view which features a crude but unmistakable sighting ring. In the nose of the UAV we can see a pair of tubes set side by side. The video shows a test flight of the twin prop UAV.

The ZigZag during flight testing, without its guns mounted, February 2025 (via Sky Defenders)

This appears to be the second fixed-wing drone developed by Sky Defenders. the first is the Vyryi M7 which is now said to be being delivered to Ukrainian units. The M7 is a loitering, or one-way, munition, powered by a single rear prop it has a 33km range and a warhead in its nose.

In an earlier video shared by a Misha a member of the Sky Defender’s team, posted on 5 March, we get a closer look at the ZigZag gun-armed drone. The video’s caption reads: “Please support the combat tests of the Zigzag interceptor aircraft. This UAV is quite an achievement for my small but really awesome team. We put all our resources into this project.”

The ZigZag firing its left, top, gun barrel during testing (via Sky Defenders)

The ZigZag has been in development since at least February 2025, with Sky Defenders sharing a short video from flight testing of the drone with the UAV seen without its four guns.

It appears that the drone actually has four rather than two gun barrels. There is only a short clip of the drone’s guns being tested and it doesn’t appear that the drone’s flight is impacted by the recoil of the gun. From the fuselage design it appears that the drone will not be using the counterweight recoilless gun designs used by the quadcopter gun-armed drones. It’s likely the the ZigZag is powerful enough to fire conventional-type ‘shotgun’ and withstand the recoil.

A close up of the ZigZag’s four-gun barrels and gimbal mounted camera (via Sky Defenders)

In the video we can see the aiming post and ring and behind it a camera on a 360-degree gimbal mount which enables aiming. While the M7 drone is a one-way-munition and not designed to return the ZigZag appears to be more robust and intended for repeated sorties. The range, weight and loitering time of the UAV is currently unknown. The role of the ZigZag appears to be as a dedicated drone hunter able to rapidly intercept opposing drones and engage them with its guns. It will be interesting to see how the ZigZag is employed.

The Sky Defenders ZigZag represents another interesting step in the rapidly evolving gun-armed drone space in Ukraine.

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Improvised Shoulder-Fired S8 Rocket

The S8 is an 80mm family of unguided rockets developed by the Soviet Union and still in service today. Developed in the 1970s there is a whole range of different types of warheads for the rockets and the S8s are most commonly seen being fired from both Russian and Ukrainian helicopters or Su-25s. We typically see both sides firing salvos of the rockets by pitching up the aircraft and launching, while this no doubt more inaccurate than firing them directly onto a ground target, as originally intended, the practice does keep the valuable aircraft somewhat out of the range of opposing air defences and must have some effect downrange as the practice has continued since the first weeks of the war.

Firing an improvised S8 launcher (via social media)

This week, however, a video of an improvised launcher developed to be fired from the shoulder emerged, seemingly developed by Russian personnel. We can see that the launcher has a pair of pistol grips, a shield made from four planks of wood with a small hole and a plastic screen tacked in place. An electrical box is also mounted on the shield, possibly containing a battery, with a cable tube running to the rear of the launch tube, ostensibly to ignite the rocket motor. It appears that there may be a trigger on the front grip. An individual in the video providing commentary states that the connection is ‘absolutely safe’. The launch tube appears to have at least one bracket welded to it for securing the shield. How the launcher is aimed is unclear, but the individual filming states that they are testing the principle and still need to make some refinements.

S8 rockets ready to be loaded onto a Ukrainian helicopter, 2023 (via social media)

The S8’s rocket burns for approximately 0.7 seconds, generating around 5,800 Newtons of thrust. Depending on the variant of rocket used the rocket has a velocity of around 450 m/s, some variants are faster, this is around 4x faster than a conventional shoulder-fired rocket system, an RPG-22 for example has a muzzle velocity of approximately 130 m/s.

Shield and pistols grips of the improvised S8 launcher (via social media)

The clip shows the firer shoulder the weapon and fire, the launch is successful with the launcher operating as expected but the recoil from the extremely fast moving rocket was considerable. The exhaust gases also appear to have acted on the shield pushing it back against the operator. The launcher flies completely out of the operators hands just after launching, with the shield – designed to protect against rocket’s exhaust gases, apparently striking him in the face. The individual filming continues to track the flight of the rocket and the firer is not shown again.

Preparing to fire an improvised S8 launcher (via social media)

The idea of shoulder launching an S8 has been explored before in Chechnya and elsewhere but unless the force of the launch can be mitigated then the results are the same. Ground improvisation with S8 rockets isn’t uncommon with lots of improvised multiple-launch rocket systems (DIY MLRS) being used by both sides, these typically use pre-existing rocket pods mounted on vehicles. This is a topic for a future article/video. A single S8 launch tube on a mount or tripod, where the danger to the operator is minimised, might have useful applications, similar mounts have already been developed to fire Grad rockets with some degree of accuracy.

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Heckler & Koch GMG in Ukraine

While the Mk19 40×53 mm automatic grenade launcher has become increasingly ubiquitous in Ukraine, alongside familiar Soviet-era AGLs like the AGS-17, but there are other automatic grenade launchers in use. In this video we’ll look at the use of the comparatively rare Heckler & Koch GMG.

Developed in the early 1990s the GMG (grenade machine gun) or Granatmaschinenwaffe (GMW) uses an advanced primer ignition blowback action. Gun, mount and tripod combined weighs in at around 47.5kgs and has a maximum range of 2,500m. It feeds from 32-round disintegrating belts and is used by over twenty countries.

On 23 May 2023, the German government confirmed that 100 GMGs were to be transferred to Ukraine. The first back of 30 GMGs were confirmed to have reached Ukraine by the German government on 8 December. A subsequent batch of 70 guns were reportedly delivered in March 2024. On 23 December 2024, the German government announced that an additional 120 GMGs had be transferred to Ukraine bringing the total number provided by Germany to 220.

Additionally, it is likely that a small number of HK GMGs may have been provided along with vehicles provided by various countries including the Netherlands and Slovenia. While it is difficult to confirm if a vehicle has simply been mounted with a GMG, rather than being delivered with it, some of the vehicles appeared in Ukraine before Germany pledged the GMGs as aid.

The first HK GMG’s appeared in Ukraine long before the German government began providing them as aid. The first gun was seen in October 2022, appearing in a short clip of a KNDS Fennek reconnaissance vehicle. It should be noted that while confirming if this video was filmed in Ukraine is difficult, the delivery of the vehicles has been confirmed by the Dutch government. Fenneks can either mount a GMG, an M2 Browning or a GPMG. An unknown number of Fenneks are confirmed to have been provided by the Netherlands.

It’s worth noting the Ukrainian troops who have been trained in the UK as part of Operation Interflex may also have been familiarised with the HK GMG which is in UK service as the L134A1, the UK is not known to have provided any of the guns to Ukraine. Ukrainian troops training in the UK in November 2022 were seen familiarising with the GMG, but this may simply have been to familiarise with Western 40mm grenade launchers rather than with the GMG specifically.

There is a considerable gap between sightings with the next appearance coming in February 2024, when a Slovenian Valuk 6×6 armoured personnel carrier equipped with one appeared in a video from Ukrainian journalist Ramina Eshakza. The vehicles gunner discusses using the GMG and close ups show that it is loaded with a belt of M430A1 High Explosive Dual Purpose. The gunner notes that he liked the assistance in aiming that the GMG’s shoulder rest provides.

Following the arrival of the first batches of GMGs donated by Germany in the first half of 2024, the weapons began to appear more regularly throughout the second half of 2024. On 12 July, the 115th Territorial Defense Brigade shared a series of photographs of troops training. In two of the photos men can be seen training with an HK GMG, noteably the gun has an interesting set of markings on its feed tray cover – which read: “Not like Mk19! Male link first!” in English and accompanied by pictograms indicating the link orientation. These markings were added in December 2023, ostensibly to avoid confusion for operators who might be more familiar with the Mk19 and assume the loading procedure is the same. Given HK’s production workflow it is possible that these markings were added specifically for the Ukraine contract, why the text wasn’t rendered in Ukrainian is unclear.

Two months later, on 10 September, a Russian drone team claimed to have have suppressed a Ukrainian position, specifically naming the weapon as a GMG. The footage’s low resolution makes this difficult to confirm. Later in September a photo was shared of a Ukrainian combatant sat next to a GMG, the date, location and the combatant’s unit is unknown.

On 8 October, a team from the GUR’s 2nd Special Operations Detachment KORD, which is a part of the Tymur Special Unit, shared a photograph of a GMG in the rear pedestal mount of a ridged inflatable boat. The mount features an armoured shield to protect the gunner.

A week later the 44th Mechanised Brigade shared several photos of a Valuk APC mounted with a GMG. In one of the photographs the gun’s serial number is visible, ‘57000483’ which would place it’s manufacture in the early 2000s. This confirms that the GMGs seen mounted on the Valuks came with the vehicles and not from German aid.

In early November the Kalinoŭski Regiment shared a video, said to show an engagement
 near Liptsi in the Kharkiv region. An HK GMG engages Russian infantry in the open and uses a drone feed to correct the fall of shot. This is the only footage we have of a GMG actually operating in Ukraine.

Several weeks later, on 19 November, the 44th Mechanised Brigade shared another image of one of their GMG-armed Valuk APCs in a post commemorating the 1,000th day since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

On 27 November, the GUR’s Aratta Battalion used a photo of an HK GMG mounted on a Polaris MRZR all-terrain vehicle on the thumbnail of a social media video. The vehicle and GMG, however, don’t appear in the video. A member Med Team Alpha, an element of the GUR’s International Legion, posted a photograph on 21 December, with a tripod-mounted GMG in the background.

On the 22 December a member of another GUR International Legion team, the Delta Knights, posted a series of photos with an HK GMG in a fighting position. The location of the position is unknown, notably he’s also holding an HK MG4, keep an eye out for our article/video on those.

The Aratta Battalion’s GMG mounted on an Polaris ATV does appear in the background of a photo posted on 1 January 2025. On the 9 January 2025, another photograph, possibly from a member of the Aratta Battalion, also showed an HK GMG mounted on the back of a Polaris ATV.

On 10 January, MTAC, a Ukrainian military clothing and gear manufacturer, shared a photograph of a combatant posing with a pintle mounted GMG on a Polaris. Notably the GMG’s reflex sight is not fitted. This Polaris may be one of those previously seen with Aratta Battalion.

Thank you to Matthias, Dikobraz and DEaidUA for their invaluable help with this article/video.

Update: 1/2/25: The GUR’s Artan Unit were featured in a CBS report which showed them setting up an HK GMG during training. Artan shared this on Telegram on 31/1/25.

Update 11/2/25: An automatic grenade launcher team from the GUR’s Artan Unit were seen in action with an HK GMG in a video shared on 5/2/25. The team do not appear to be using the weapon’s sights suggesting they are correcting fall of shot by observation and are firing on pre-ordained coordinates.

Update 11/2/25: A support team from the Belarussian Volunteer Corps operating an HK GMG during an operation near Vovchansk. No reflex sight or other optic is used, instead the team utilises the ladder sight. This also appears to be the first occasion we have seen a GMG painted. (Source)

Update – 18/11/25:

Recent image of a HK GMG with collimator sight, as well as an HK MG5.

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HK MG4 In Ukraine

On 23 December 2024 the German government confirmed that 200 Heckler & Koch MG4 5.56x45mm machine guns had been delivered as aid to Ukraine. The MG4s join the 7.62x51mm MG5s which have already been provided, along with a plethora of other HK small arms and light weapons including HK GMGs and a significant number of SFP9 pistols.

The MG4 was developed in the mid-1990s and adopted by the Germany Army in 2005. It is a gas operated light machine gun with an effective range of 600m. It weighs 8.7 kg (19.8lbs) unloaded, has an overall length of 1085mm (42.7in) and feeds from NATO standard disintegrating metal belts.

MG4 with Thales Xtraim and magnifier (shybenyk.squad)

While the delivery of MG4s was only confirmed in late December the guns appear to have arrived in country earlier with the first sighting of one coming on 3 December 2024. The initial sighting of the weapon was posted on Instagram by a Ukrainian combatant, likely a member of the GUR’s special operations teams. The initial photograph appears to have been taken indoors at a range and the flat dark earth colour across all parts of the weapon – rather than black or RAL8000, appears to indicate a base coat for a custom paint job. The weapon also has an FN Minimi belt box, while an adapter isn’t needed to use a Minimi box or bag, HK offers an adapter which enables more ergonomic mounting on the MG4.

A day later the same combatant posted a video showing him firing the MG4 on the move. From both the video and earlier photograph we can see that the weapon has the Gen 1 pattern fixed length, folding stock and a 17.7″ (450 mm) barrel. The gun is mounted with a Hensoldt RSA-S Reflex Sight on top of a Hensoldt 4x30i magnified optic.

On the 8 December the combatant shared another video, the MG4 is seen with the camouflage paint job completed and equipped with just the Hensoldt RSA-S, conducting training drills at a range. 

On the 14 December, Shybenyk.Squad, another GUR team – associated with the Kraken Regiment, shared a photograph of a combatant with an MG4 notably fitted with a rare Thales Xtraim thermal fusion holographic sight and a magnifier. The MG4 is loaded with HK’s proprietary fabric soft ammo pouch. Several days later on 19 December, they shared a group photo taken in Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia. Speaking to a member of Shybenyk.Squad they shared some thoughts on the MG4 stating:

“the weapon is very reliable and highly accurate, it can withstand the heavy load of endless enemy assaults, requiring only periodic lubrication. The disadvantages include insufficient ergonomics and weight, with which it is difficult to control during assault actions.”

They went on to explain that they received spare barrels and spare parts for the weapon.

A painted MG4 (via social media)

On the 20 December, MTAC, a Ukrainian military clothing and gear manufacturer, shared a photograph of the combatant with the MG4 – showcasing some MTAC products. The Hensoldt RSA-S reflex sight can again be seen.

On the 22 December, a member of the Delta Knights, an element of the GUR’s International Legion, posted a series of photos featuring an MG4. In the first he poses with a recently donated axe and in the second he showed his unit’s MG5 alongside the new MG4. In these photographs the gun is clearly unpainted and has a factory RAL8000 finish but has a black heat shield – this is seen on other examples too. It also has the same Gen 1 pattern fixed length, folding stock as seen on the earlier seen MG4. When asked what they thought of it Delta Knights simply replied “we love it so far”.

A 7.62x51mm HK MG5 and 5.56x45mm HK MG4 (Kevin Vinje/Delta Knights)

The most recent MG4 sightings, at the time of writing , appeared on 10 January 2025, when the Artan Special Unit, also affiliated with the GUR, shared a photograph of a combatant holding one of the machine guns, again with a RAL8000 finnish and mounted with a 4x30i Hensoldt optic with which it is likely the guns shipped with.

From the limited number of sightings of the weapons so far it appears that the MG4s have been predominantly issued to GUR teams including Delta Knights and Artan. With 200 guns delivered we will likely see MG4s appearing in imagery more often over the coming months.

Thank you to Matthias and DEaidUA for their invaluable help with this article/video. Thank you also to shybenyk.squad for sharing their thoughts on the MG4.

Update – 11/2/25: The GUR’s Artan Unit shared a team photo featuring an MG4 on 6 February.

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M26 MASS In Ukraine

This week another image of a very rarely seen shotgun in Ukraine appeared, an M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System. These are magazine-fed, bolt-action shotguns which can be mounted on rifles.

The M26 is essentially the US military’s bolt-action Masterkey at home. Developed in the early 2000s by C-More Systems it was selected by the US Army in 2008 and began fielding in 2011 seeing operational service in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is still in service today.

M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System in its standalone configuration (US DoD)

The shotgun has a 3 inch chamber and uses a straight-pull bolt-action. It’s box magazine-fed with 3 or 5 round capacities available. It can also be used as a standalone once a stock and pistol grip assembly is attached, it has folding back-up iron sights but uses the rifle’s sights when mounted. The MASS’ safety and bolt-handle are reversible to allow ambidextrous operation. The M26 was designed to be employed as a breaching shotgun for shooting hinges and locks, the barrel is tipped with a breaching stand-off adapter muzzle-device. In its rifle-mounted configuration the M26 weighs around 3lbs (1.4kg) and has an overall length of 16.5 inches (42cm). It has an improved cylinder bore profile (sometimes referred to as a 1/4 choke), meaning it has an integral choke with a slight constriction that allows the shot to spread quickly after leaving the muzzle, the practical range for this type of choke is around 15-30 yards.

The most recent sighting of one of the shotguns came on 19 December. Ukrainian outlet Tysk shared a photograph of a Ukrainian operator armed with an M4A1 carbine topped with an ACOG and equipped with a M26 MASS In Ukraine. The M26 in the photograph appears to be loaded with a five-round magazine.

Sightings of the M26 in Ukraine are extremely rare, with the only other example appearing in a ХЛОПЦІ З ЛІСУ (Boys from the Forrest) video which showcased weapons used by the UA Reg is the 1st Special Operations Detachment of the 8th Regiment, SSO (UA SOF). The M26 seen in that video was in the standalone configuration with pistol grip and stock attached. Sadly, the shotgun itself wasn’t discussed in the video.

M4A1 mounted with an M26 (via Tysk)

While Russia has not officially fielded anything similar we have seen efforts to adapt GP-25 under-barrel grenade launchers with shotgun adaptors and there has been at least one sighting, back in May, of an improvised slam-fire tube-shotgun mounted under-barrel on an AK-12. The shotguns even appeared on the Russia 1 state TV channel.

Since the latest photograph appeared there has been significant speculation as to whether it might be being used to defend against First-Person View (FPV) drones. This may be unlikely given the weapon’s short 7.75 (197mm) barrel, this length would limit its effectiveness in engaging more distant drones but might be useful in engaging approaching FPV drones- as a last ditch defence. This is something we’ve seen Russian combatants improvising weapons to deal with. The speed with which FPV drones close on their targets, however, would make multiple shots from the M26 unlikely due to its manual action. This would reduce the chances of successfully engaging an on-coming drone.

Standalone M26 (via ХЛОПЦІ З ЛІСУ)

While any shotgun is better than no shotgun the units that the M26 has been seen with definitely have access to shotguns better suited to engaging drones. Where the M26 is more likely to be useful in Ukraine, is in its original role – as a breaching shotgun. Ukrainian units regularly find themselves operating in urban areas where quick access into rooms is key. Provided they have breaching rounds then the M26 might be most useful in this role.

M26 MASS Specs (from C-More Systems):

  • Caliber: 12 gauge
  • Chamber: 2-3/4″ or 3″
  • Operation: Straight-Pull Bolt-Action 
  • Capacity: 3 or 5 Round Detachable Magazine
  • Weight: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
  • Barrel Length: 7-3/4 in (19.7 cm)
  • Overall Length: 16.5 in (41.9 cm)
  • Cylinder Bore: Improved Cylinder

Update – 4/1/24: Tysk have shared some redacted footage of the M26 at the range along with the operator’s thoughts (machine translated):

“Experience shows the rifle’s effective range does not exceed 30 meters, and that already requires above average level of training.
Adding so much weight to the rifle increases the weight of the barrel too. I would argue one has to be quite a tough guy to stay in a ready position for long. Especially considering people nowadays cannot do the same even with an AK.
In my humble opinion, this weapon system has its niche and can even be useful as an independent piece but becomes too impractical when coupled with an M4.”

Update – 3/2/25: Mjolnir Group shared a photograph featuring an M26 in the standalone configuration.

Update – 2/3/25:

A recently shared video of a Ukrainian serviceman training with a US M26 MASS shotgun in the standalone configuration.

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Ukraine Begins Assembly of CZ BREN 2s

On Friday, it was confirmed that the CZ Bren 2 will be assembled in Ukraine. This marks the first partnership since Russia’s Invasion in February 2022, that will see foreign small arms assembled in Ukraine. The Bren 2 is a 5.56x45mm select-fire gas-operated rifle which was first introduced as the CZ 805 BREN in 2011. While CZ Bren 805s have appeared in Ukraine the BREN 2 is much more common and favoured by troops on the ground.

We’ll take an in-depth look at their use in a future article/video but a considerable number of Ukrainian units ranging from special forces units to regular army have been seen equipped with the Czech rifles. Visually confirmed variants in Ukrainian service include the initial 5.56x45mm BREN 805 and later BREN 2 in various barrel lengths and configuration including the 8 inch barrel carbine with both side folding and telescoping stocks and the much more common rifles with side folding stocks and 11 and 14 inch barrels. There have also been a limited number of sightings of 7.62x39mm 8 inch barrel carbines and a number of 7.62x51mm BREN 2 BRs.

The first indications that production of the BREN 2 might be established in Ukraine came on 29 September 2023. During the first ever Ukrainian International Defence Industries Forum Deputy Minister of Defense Daniel Blažkovec stated that “the transfer of production of the Bren 2 “Sich” assault rifle” was a major, ‘flagship’ project.

Ukrainian Special Operations with CZ BREN 2s (via social media)

Sich (Січ) in Ukrainian refers to a historic form of fortified administrative and military camp used by Cossacks during the 16th century and later became associated with the Euromaidan in 2013. Since the name was used in September 2023, it has not appeared again.

In an announcement posted on 13 December, Ukraine’s state-owned defence corporation Ukroboronprom stated that the Ukrainian Defense Industry had begun licensed assembly of BREN 2s and that the agreement with CZ covers local assembly of rifles and will later include “full production of NATO-standard assault rifles in Ukraine”, the agreement was signed on 16 July 2024. Oleg Hulyak, Director General of Ukroboronprom, stated:

“Partnership with Czech colleagues will help to improve the provision of the needs of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in reliable and modern small arms produced in our country. In addition, another step has been taken towards the integration of our defense-industrial complex into the industrial chains of NATO countries,”

I reached out to Colt CZ Group for comment, Jan Zajíc, CEO of Česká zbrojovka, said in a statement:

“We are happy that together with our Ukroboronprom partners, we have successfully completed the assembly phase of the CZ BREN 2 assault rifle on the Ukrainian soil. Following the training of Ukroboronprom personnel at Česká zbrojovka, Ukraine is now able to deliver to its Armed Forces the CZ BREN 2 rifles assembled in Ukraine according to Česká zbrojovka‘s strict quality standards. We are ready to continue our cooperation in the future, all the way to full technology transfer.“

Ukrainian GUR chief, Kyrylo Budanov, and associates during a June 2022 visit to Sievierodonetsk. One individual has a 5.56x45mm CZ BREN 2 and the other a rare 7.62x39mm BREN 2 with an 8in barrel and telescoping stock (via social media)

Currently the only other country which has a similar arrangement with CZ is Hungary which has established Colt CZ Hungary to enable Hungary’s HM Arzenal to assemble/manufacture BREN 2s for the Hungarian armed forces. This isn’t the first time Ukraine has worked with external firearms manufacturers with an earlier partnership seeing Ukrainian small arms manufacturer Fort assemble Israeli IWI weapons under license in the 2000s. See our earlier look at the Ukrainian Fort Tavor bullpup rifles here.

The future significance of CZ’s establishment of an assembly line in Ukraine remains to be seen but as Ukraine seeks to further integrate with its Western allies and take up NATO standards the ability to produce a NATO calibre rifle, which is already in widespread Ukrainian service, will be extremely useful. From the statements released it appears that assembly of the rifles may be the first step towards localised production, it will be interesting to track CZ and Ukroboronprom’s partnership.

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