M110 in Ukraine

Since around September 2022 there have been a small but steady stream of sightings of M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper Systems in use with combatants in Ukraine. The rifles began appearing on the southern Kherson front, before the city was recaptured. While the Ukrainian 7.62x51mm UAR-10 designated marksman rifles are regularly seen intermittent sighting of M110s have continued.

From the available evidence it appears that special operations units from the Ukrainian Security Service (the SBU), the Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR), the National guard and the Special Operations Forces (the SSO) are the primary users. Units operating with the rifles are believed to include Alpha Group and the 3rd and 8th Separate Special Forces Regiments, as well as a number of groups which, from the available imagery, have been difficult to link with parent units.

*M110 with ATN THOR, taken during a range session, note butt extended (via Social Media)*

Developed in the early 2000s by Knights Armament Company in response to the US Army’s requirement for a semi-automatic rifle to equip snipers, spotters and designated marksmen the M110 was adopted in 2008. Based on the SR-25, the 7.62x51mm rifle uses Stoner’s internal piston gas impingement system, and has a 20 inch barrel with a 1 in 11 twist. The rifle comes with a QD Knights suppressor and the initial issue optic was a Leupold 3.5–10× variable power daytime optic few of the rifles seen in use in Ukraine appear to be equipped with US issued optics. Both the US Army and USMC have issued the rifle with some variations in optics used and furniture.

A Ukrainian combatants I spoke to told me: “For a marksman, the top weapon. To work at short distances. The PBS system [meaning the integral suppressor] is standard in the kit. It is quiet compared to other rifles.” But he did note that he isn’t part of his unit’ s sniper group and has only used the rifle on the range.

*Three M110s with various optics, note suppressors not fitted, in their transit cases* (via Social Media)

Most of the examples in Ukraine have the traditional fixed stock which was issued with the rifles, rather than the FDE Magpul PRS stock which is length and height which the USMC snipers have been issued. However, at least one rifle with a PRS has been seen in a photo and a least one rifle has been fitted with LUTH-AR MBA-1 stocks used on the Ukrainian UAR-10. Perhaps out of preference or replacing a damaged stock. In theatre the rifles have been seen paired with a variety of optics ranging from the original Leupold 3.5-10x variable scopes to ATN THOR 4 thermal optics and even a Trijicon 6×48 ACOG.

The earliest image of an M110 in Ukraine was shared on a Ukrainian telegram channel covering news around the city of Kherson in the early autumn of 2022. The original post is no longer available but shows a sniper in a ghillie suit unmistakably armed with an M110.

Early November saw Ukrainian operators share numerous photographs from a range session where the rifle can be seen fitted with an ATN THOR. December saw more photos shared of what is likely the same rifle, now equipped with a Trijicon 6×48 ACOG.

*Two M110s photographed during a range session, one fitted with a LUTH-AR stock (via Social Media)*

More photos of the same rifle fitted with the ATN THOR were posted by another operator in mid-November. Bravo Group shared a photo featuring an M110 in early December. Around the same time the F Spets instagram account shared a photo of a winter range session with an M110 visible. The same account shared a photo of three M110s in transit cases. Two of the rifles don’t have their suppressors fitted – though these may have been just removed for cleaning. The cases also show slings, various models of bipod an two have three mags apiece stored in one of the cases slots. As mentioned earlier one rifle has a PRS stock.

In late January a Ukrainian operator shared a montage video with a short clip of a range session with the M110 fitted with a 6×48 ACOG. A Japanese volunteer with the International Legion shared a photo of a scope-less M110 with his cat on 27 January. At the end of February an M110 with a LUTH-AR MBA-1 stock, possibly taken from a UAR-10 was shared. The same operator shared some new photos of M110s in March. The rifle with the LUTH-AR stock is seen again, in a photo with the logo of a group called ‘НЕПТУН’ (Neptune). In a second photo shared on 17 March we can see a pair of M110s, one without its suppressor fitted.

*M110 with ATN THOR during a range session (via Social Media)*

How many M110s are in use in Ukraine remains unclear but from a survey of the available imagery it appears that the number is relatively small. Multiple individuals have shared photographs of what appears to be the same rifles, not doubt because of its notoriety as a relatively rare weapon in theatre. Sources suggest that the rifles were available on a first come first serve basis when they arrived during the second half of 2022. Since they arrived they have been seen in various configurations and with numerous different optics mounted on them.

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Bibliography:

My thanks to the guys at the ShriekingDelilah instagram page and to Abraxas Spa, for their help with this article.

Ukrain Adopts New Semi-Automatic Sniper rifle: The UAR-10, TFB, (source)

M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, DVIDS, (source)

MTs-566 In Ukraine

On 15 March a report from Russia’s Federal News Agency featured an interesting semi-automatic sniper rifle – the MTs-566. The report shows a sniper team from Wagner, Russia’s largest private military contractor, in position in Bakhmut. The date the piece was filmed is unclear but the rifle itself is rarely seen and the footage gives us a decent look at the rifle and even of it firing a couple of rounds.

The MTs-566 is produced by TsKIB SOO, the Central Bureau for Sporting and Hunting Arms at Tula. It’s chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO and uses a short stroke gas piston system. It fulfils a similar role to the US M110 series of rifles or Ukraine’s UAR-10s. The MTs-566 was developed from the OTs-129 designated marksman rifle developed for a Russian military requirement. It has a 60cm or 24in barrel, feeds from 7.62 PMags and has a full length top rail. It also has a pair of folding iron sights and a side folding stock. It has a quad-rail forend and a suppressor which partially shrouds the rifle’s barrel. In the civilian version at least the suppressor is more of an empty expansion chamber without baffles, whether that’s the case with production guns or rifles purchased for military use is unclear. If the expansion chamber can is in use here then it appears to help somewhat. TsKIB SOO list the weight of the rifle as 4.8kg or 10.6lbs and its overall length as 125cm or 49in though other sources do vary slightly. Notably, the weapon’s lower receiver is much shallower with the pistol grip positioned much higher than say on an AR-10, suggesting a different firing mechanism requiring less space than the AR-10’s hammer.

It was displayed for the first time in 2018 and was reportedly aimed at the civilian hunting market and due to be on sale in 2020. My good friend Hrachya got a good look at one at the 2018 Russian Arms & Hunting Expo. He wrote up a detailed article on it for TFB. The rifle has some interesting features including integral folding iron sights rather than rail mounted sights – the Russian military believed that these could be too easily damaged so Tula engineers designed integral sights, the rear sight folds back into the hinge of the stock. There is also rail space attached directly to the rifles receiver, seemingly for the mounting of accessories.

The Russian news report says the sniper team is at work in Bakhmut. The sniper describes his rifle and notes its mounted with a 20x optic. The sniper also says that:“I work at a distance of 700-800, sometimes 1000 [meters],” He also briefly talks about the 7.62x51mm round the MTs-566 uses, noting that: it works well and that it’s a pleasant round to shoot, he also says that while smaller they have good velocity downrange. During the clip the sniper fires two rounds in quick succession while his spotter watches the target downrange. It’s unclear what ammunition they are using but the rifle is said to be capable of 1 MOA accuracy but I couldn’t find any figures from TsKIB SOO. It’s unclear how many MTs-566s might be in use in the field but this report represents the best look at the rifle we’ve had so far.

Bibliography:

How Wagner PMC Snipers Work in Bakhmut, RIAFAN, (source)

TsKIB SOO’s archived website c.2021 (source)

TsKIB SOO MTs-566 Rifle, TFB, (source)

MTs-566, Modern Firearms, (source)

Sniper rifle OTs-129, TopWar, (source)

My thanks top Soviet Army Fan over on twitter for some help with translation.

Black Storm Defender – Standalone GP-25 Grenade Launcher Stock

In an earlier video we looked at the Black Storm series of bullpup conversion kits for AK pattern rifles. Black Storm have also developed an interesting standalone stock for the GP-25 under barrel grenade launcher called ‘Defender’. The impetus for this is s aid to be that the Black Storm rifle kits aren’t able to support the grenade launchers so a standalone stock into which they can be mounted was developed.

The GP-25 is a 40mm grenade launcher designed in the late 1970s by the small arms design bureau based at Tula. It is an under-barrel grenade launcher designed to slide onto standard issued AK-74 pattern rifles. Its ammunition uses a high–low pressure system and has a range of up to 400m.

The most interesting feature of the GP-25 stock is that it has a recoil mitigation system. This appears to be a strong spring in the telescoping stock tube which acts as a buffer. The stock kit is made up of a telescoping stock with butt pad, onto which the grenade launcher is mounted – just as you would onto a rifle, a forward vertical grip can be attached by a clamshell pair of metal stampings with allow the grip piece to be centered and held in place by two cross nuts. There is also a press-fit pistol grip extension for the GP-25’s short grip to help improve ergonomics.

Black Storm list the stock kit without launcher as weighing 200g while the Defender with GP-25 is listed as weighing 500g (1.1lbs). Black Storm sell the V2.0 of the stock for 5,950 UAH ($162).

*A GP-25 in a Black Storm Defender stock (via War_Noir)*

With some units also transitioning to NATO calibre rifles like the M4A1, MSBS GROT, FN FNC and F2000 amongst others, the ability to use the GP-25 as a stand alone weapon has proven valuable as the GP-25 can’t be mounted on Western rifles but with ammunition for the grenade launchers still plentiful they can continue to be used.

The earliest imagery I could find of the Defender in the field dates to 22 April, when Russian reporter War Gonzo posted a short video showing a Defender captured by Separatist DPR troops in Mariupol. The DPR soldier examining it notes that the weapon doesn’t seem to work and also compared it to the GP-25 fitted to his own AKS-74.

In May a good, clear photograph of a GP-25 in a Defender stock was shared, shown fitted with a sling. In mid-May Ukrainian operators shared a video of the Defender being fired at the range.

Also in May a short video of a Defender kit being fitted to a launcher was shared – this particular example apparently requiring some hand fitting to the sheet-metal pieces that attach the forward grip.

A number of other stand alone adapters for GP-25s have also been seen in the field, In late May 2022, this example of a simpler adapter was shared online featuring a rigid stock onto which the grande launcher can be fitted. Simple adapters like this may be craft made in the field or manufactured by commercial companies.

*A GP-25 in a Defender stock (via social media)*

In June a short video was shared of a Ukrainian soldier firing several high-angle rounds from a GP-25 mounted in a Defender stock, we can see that the sight has been set to its highest elevation.

Ukrainian operators shared another photograph of a GP-25 in a Defender stock in September. The North Side Group shared a photograph of a GP-25 in a Defender at what appears to be a range in mid-September.

Russian operator shared photo of two standalone stocks for the GP-25 – the first is the rigid stock type seen in the photo from May. I haven’t been able to ascertain who produces this stock yet. In these photos, however, it is clear that the butt is wider than the Ukrainian design. The second stock appears to be a Black Storm Defender.

On 30 November the Belarusian volunteer unit, the Kalinouski Regiment, shared a video demonstrating the Defender, showing how its loaded, fired and carried noting that it is “designed to destroy enemy manpower located in trenches, and open terrain.”

In early January, Assistance Group – a German group active in Ukraine, shared some photographs of load out for operating in urban and woodland environments and a GP-25 in a Defender feature in both photographs.

At the beginning of February 2023 a video was shared featuring an operator with Russia’s SOBR “Granit”, he fires a couple of rounds from a GP-25 in a stand along stock. It’s difficult to make out but it appears to be a Defender, though it is not fitted with a front grip.

The ‘Lubart’ Ukrainian special operations forces unit recently shared a number of montage video of operations around Bakhmut. In it one operator loads and fires a Defender several times. The Defender in the clip lacks the pistol grip extension that comes as part of the kit.

*A GP-25 Defender and a pair of customised AKs (via social media)*

On 2 March a member of the Forward Observations Group shared a photo of is various weapons including a Black Storm Defender.

Finally, most recently, a short video from a Russian anti-Putin group – the Russian Volunteer Corps, filmed during an apparent raid into Bryansk. The video featured one of the group’s leaders with a Defender slung at his side.

It’s unclear just how many of these Black Storm Defender stock kits are being used by Ukrainian personnel but they do continue to appear regularly in imagery from the field. While unsurprisingly they appear to be favoured by units armed with Western rifles they are also being used by combatants armed with weapons which could mount a GP-25, perhaps indicating a preference for using the launcher as a stand alone weapon.

Bibliography:

Black Storm Defender, Black Storm, (source)

Video demonstrating assembly of Defender, Black Storm, (source)

Thanks to the guys at Streaking Delilah, War_Noir and to Abraxas Spa for their help with imagery for this video.

Right Arm of the Free World: FN FALs in Ukraine

It’s a year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and since last February we have seen a massive influx of Western weapon systems into Ukraine. We’ve seen everything from artillery to infantry weapons and the breadth of small arms has ranged from brand new Polish MSBS Grots and M4A1s to M14s. In recent months another Cold War icon has begun to appear in imagery from the fighting – the FN FAL – the ‘Right Arm of the Free World’.

To date both standard fixed stock and folding stock FALs have been seen in use, though appearances are relatively rare. The first sightings of FALs came in June 2022 when two photos of fixed stock 50.00 metric pattern Type 3 FALs were shared. The first in the second week of June and a second at the end of the month. The second photograph was posted by Ukrainian combatants near Nikolaev, Mykolaiv region. It is possible that both of these rifles may have been a civilian-owned rifle pressed into service.

The most common variant seen in open source imagery is currently the 50.61 or PARA FAL with a side-folding stock and a full length 53cm (21.0 in) barrel. The rifles could also be the visually identical 50.64, which has an alloy receiver, though these rifles are less common. All of the rifles seen in the photographs have Type 3 receivers which date them to post 1973 production. Sadly, photographs showing the weapon’s serial number ranges aren’t available.

A photograph of several crates of these still in their plastic wrapping shared in early October 2022. This is potentially the first sighting of the folding stocked rifles in Ukraine.

In late November a photograph of five PARA FALs in the same sort of crate was shared and said to have been taken near Bakhmut.

On 10 December, Dmytro Mrachnyk, the commander of a mortar platoon with a Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force unit fighting around Bakhmut, shared his first photograph with his PARA FAL. I contacted Dmytro and he was kind enough to share his thoughts on the rifle. He explained that he liked the rifle and has only had one stoppage, he said: “it jammed a cartridge case once during an intense fight, but the problem was quickly resolved.” He also explained that he really likes the 7.62x51mm round and that he had 9 magazines for the rifle.

He confirmed that the rifles are select fire and when I asked him about ammunition availability for the 7.62x51mm FALs, Dmytro said that there is some available but it can’t be found everywhere.

He said that so far he’s only seen the FALs in use with elements of his unit. He opted for the FAL, to replace his AK-74 when he joined the unit.

On the 22 December Dmytro shared a photograph of a PARA FAL which had its forend and stock covered in fur. I asked him about this and he explained that: “My sergeant decided to disguise the rifle for the winter – he partially painted it white and glued on a light fur found among the garbage in Bakhmut.”

On 30 December, Ukrainian personnel shared an update video from Bakhmut, one of the soldiers can be seen holding a PARA FAL. Several days later, in early January 2023, the same soldiers shared another short video filmed in a town square in Bakhmut, again the FAL can be seen.

Our second sighting of a fixed stock FAL came on 31 December when another Ukrainian combatant shared a photograph holding a 50.00 FAL, with some scrim wrapped around the butt and carrying handle and a bipod attached. He wished to remain anonymous but was kind enough to share his thoughts on the FAL.

He explained that he was issued the FAL instead of a UR-10 (UAR-10/Z-10) DMR rifle and that he was the only one in his company to be issued one. An optic was issued with the rifle but no means of mounting it to the rifle. He was also only provided with two 10 round magazines. Even without an optic he said that: “As a marksman, you can work at a maximum of 500m” and it “hits quite accurately with single shots, automatic fire gives a very large spread, very loud.”

Commenting on the rifle itself he noted that he believed the rifle to date from 1976 and that while ‘cool and a little unusual’ it was “picky, she is afraid of dirt, she was in a swamp and the action almost did not work.” He also felt that it was ‘a little too heavy compared to the AK [AK74].”

He also pointed out that “it is very long and not convenient when storming buildings” he concluded: “In my opinion, it is already outdated and not practical and often very inconvenient.”

The most recent photograph of one I have seen dates from 15 January, when Dmytro posted a photo, holding his FAL aloft, with the caption ‘The unconquered Bakhmut stands’.

It’s unclear who provided the rifles to Ukraine as numerous nations around the world have fielded similar variants. In Europe these include Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal and the Netherlands. Most of these, however, have long since replaced them in service. If Belgium, one of the most likely candidates, provided the rifles then they have been in store since the late 1990s.

Special thanks to Dmytro and the other anonymous Ukrainian combatant for answering my questions, Dmytro’s details are in the description box below. Thanks also to the guys at Shrieking Delilah on Instagram who have been doing great work on documenting some of the plethora of weapons turning up in Ukraine.

So far, of the three major call war battle rifles we’ve seen the M14, check out my video on that if you haven’t already, and the FN FAL but I’m yet to see any sign of HK G3s. If you spot any or anything else I should cover in a video drop me a comment below or an email.

Update 06/03/23:

The social media of the Command of the United Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shared a photograph of a member of the 103rd Separate Brigade of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force with a tricked out 50.00 FN FAL mounted with bipod and an ATN THOR thermal optic. This configuration is in line with one mentioned by the anonymous Ukrainian combatant who shared his thoughts on the FAL. This FAL with the 103rd brigade, however, has an optic mounting rail and 20-round magazines.

A member of the 103rd Separate Brigade of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force with a tricked out 50.00 FN FAL. Mounted with bipod and an ATN THOR thermal optic. Good DMR kit.

Check out my article/video on FAL use in #Ukraine: https://t.co/UolxfcSMe7 #FNFAL #smallarms pic.twitter.com/CGFTxCbcs1
— Historical Firearms | Matthew Moss (@historicfirearm) March 6, 2023

Bibliography:

Identifying & Tracing the FN Herstal FAL Rifle, ARES, (source)

Authors discussions with Ukrainian servicemen including Dmytro Mrachnyk [PayPal: dmrachnik@gmail.com]

M16A4s in Ukraine

On 12 January, a unit of the Ukrainian Army’s 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade (47 OMBr) was seen equipped with US M16A4s for the first time. The rifles were seen equipped with Trijicon ACOG optics and some, a considerable percentage, were seen with M203 40mm under-barrel grenade launchers, and of course rail covers.

Previously, we have seen a considerable number of M4A1 carbines, some equipped with M320 40mm grenade launchers. This, however, is the first time we’ve seen the M16A4. Other elements of the 47 OMBr have been seen equipped with FN FNCs in 5.56x45mm. The 47 OMBr appears to be a unit which has largely been allotted western small arms and equipment. The brigade was formed in November 2022 and, as with a number of other new Ukrainian brigades, has been built up from a battalion (which was raised in August 2022) to a regiment to a brigade level formation.

*A close up of an M16A4 with an ACOG and M203 UBGL and rail covers in Ukrainian service (47 OMBr)*

The M16A4 is a 5.56x45mm, select-fire rifle which uses a direct impingement gas system and a rotating bolt locking mechanism. The M16A4 was developed in the late 1990s and entered service in January 1999. It and has seen service with the US Army, USMC and US Navy. The US Army began to move away from the M16A4 in favour of the M4A1 in 2011 while the USMC favoured the rifle’s 20 inch (50.8cm) barrel length and began replacing its M16A2 with A4s in 2002, only in October 2015 did they begin to transition to the M4A1 Carbine and latterly the M27 for infantry Marines. Despite this the M16A4, however, remains in widespread service use.

The photographs and short video where the rifles were seen for the first time were posted to commemorate a visit from members of Plast, Ukraine’s scouts organisation, who brought a lamp of the Fire of Peace to be lit with members of the brigade.

Another photograph was shared on the brigade’s social media on 22 January, showing a close up of an M203-equipped M16A4, which was also mounted with an ACOG. How many of these rifles have been transferred is unknown, the most recent US Department of Defense fact sheet on aid to Ukraine, published on 25 January, lists 13,000 assorted small arms.

*An as-issued M16A4 service rifle with quad rail forend, railed receiver, ACOG and grip pod (US Army)*

The rifles appear to be straight from US Army or USMC inventory and look to be in good shape. The rifles have been predominantly made by Colt and FN. None of the imagery has been close enough yet to see which manufacturer the now-Ukrainian rifles were made by.

I expect we will be seeing a proliferation of the M16A4 rifles just as we have the M4A1 carbines since the early summer of 2022. The 47 OMBr probably won’t be the only unit to field them and we’ll probably be seeing many more of these in the future as the US military has considerable stocks of the rifles and production lines are still active. If and when we do, I’ll follow up with further videos/articles.

Update 20/03/23: Sergeant with Ukraine’s 47th Brigade seen armed with M16A4 equipped with M203 grenade launcher and an ACOG.

A Sergeant with the 47th Brigade armed with an M16A4, M203 grenade launcher and an ACOG. Next to him is a soldier a… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…—
Historical Firearms | Matthew Moss (@historicfirearm) March 22, 2023

Bibliography:

Marine’s Switch from the M16 to the M4, Marine Corps Times, (source)

Weapon Systems 2011, US Army, (source)

5.56 Chronology, D. Watters/LooseRounds, (source)

FN & Colt Will Compete for M16A4 Foreign Military Sales Contracts Worth $380 Million, TFB, (source)

Aid to Ukraine Factsheet, 25 Jan., US Department of Defense, (source)

47 Brigade, Markus Foundation, (source)

French HPD2A2 Mines in Ukraine

Earlier this week (7 November) Alexander Borodai, the former leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic now a member of the Russian Duma for the separatist region, was seen in a video showing a near miss with a French HPD 2A2 anti-vehicle mine. The video, believed to have been filmed south of Kherson, showed the lead vehicle of Borodai’s convoy damaged by a mine, while another mine was seen next to his vehicle. The lead vehicle appears to be badly damaged with the front of the vehicle seemingly taking the brunt. If the vehicles was damaged by a HPD 2A2 it is interesting that the 4×4 vehicle was able to set off the mine which is designed to be triggered by heavier armoured vehicles, though some sources state movement of even smaller metal objects near by can trigger the mine. Similary Borodai is lucky not to have triggered the mine’s anti-tamper system.

The mine is clearly identifiable as a French HPD-2A2 with the lot number 01-BT-19. Various sources suggest around 400,000 of the HPD series of mines have been produced and they’re in service with the French, Norwegian, Belgian and Swiss armed forces. From Borodai’s video we can see the mine has a serial number of ‘9131229‘. Another example photographed in early October has the partial serial number ‘91296..’ visible. Both mines are from the same lot and the end digits seem to denote year of manufacture – 2019.

Russian sources suggest the mines have been in theatre since August but the first images of the mines were shared in early July, pictured in the back of a Ukrainian van with German DM-22 off-route mines and DM-31s. Some video was released by a Ukrainian explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officer in July which is claimed to show a Russian vehicle destroyed by one of the HPD-2A2 mines.

Russian tank (probably carrying ammo) blew up on our mine and then was finished with grenade launcher.

Hehe pic.twitter.com/sy3VzVVlqk
— Максим (@kms_d4k) July 7, 2022

The HPD family of mines (which includes the HPD 1, 2 and 3) began to be developed in the early 1980s by Thomson-CSF and Daimler-Chrysler Aerospac. The HPD2 (or MI AC HPD F2 in French service) was introduced in 1988. The mines use a 3.3kg charge made up of an RDX/TNT mix to create an explosively formed penetrator using the Misznay–Schardin effect. The mines are said to be able to penetrate armour between 100 to 150mm thick. The mines have a 10 minute arming delay once set and can be active for up to 30 day before they deactivate themselves. Because the mine can be triggered by the electromagnetic field of a metal detector it has been said that this contravenes the Geneva Convention’s Protocol II (May 3, 1996).

The HPD-2 is made up of two sections: a fuze assembly with a magnetic influence sensor and a two battery power supply, the self-neutralising system and the arming mechanism and the mine’s explosive charge. It reportedly has an anti-handling device sensitive to motion and the signals produced by metal detectors. The mine is detonated when the seismic sensor reacts to vibrations made by passing vehicles and a magnetic sensor is activated. The magnetic sensor uses variation in the earth’s magnetic field caused by the proximity of a vehicle’s large metal mass. Sources suggest the magnetic sensors is triggered by vehicles over 8 tons.

While there has been no official confirmation the mines are believed to have been provided by France as part of their military aid to Ukraine which has also included VAB armoured vehicles, Mistral short range air defence systems and anti-tank guided missile systems including MILAN and Javelin.

We’ve previously examined the German DM22, Estonian PK-14 and Russian PTKM-1R mines in use in Ukraine.

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

HPD-2 Landmine, CAT-UXO, (source)

MI AC HPD F2 Landmine, Fenix Insight, (source)

HPD Mine, Lexpev.nl, (source)

HPD Mines, Rufor.org, (source)

MI ACH 88, RMS, (source)

State Duma deputy’s security car blows up on French HPD anti-tank mine in Ukraine’s Kherson region, EuroWeekly, (source)

Arms For Ukraine: French Weapons Deliveries To Kyiv, Oryx, (source)