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.
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 early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!
The APILAS or Armour-Piercing Infantry Light Arm System, developed by France’s GIAT Industries in the early 1980s, is perhaps one of the rarest shoulder-fired anti-armour weapon systems to appear in Ukraine. APILAS is a 112mm anti-armour weapon with a 1.5kg shaped charge warhead capable of penetrating more than 750mm or rolled homogeneous armour.
The APILAS seen in Ukraine are most likely to have originated from either France or Finland, with Finland being the more likely.
In late February 2022, with Russian forces massed on Ukraine’s borders, the Finnish government made a rare public declaration of military aid to Ukraine. This included figures for a number of different weapon systems. The announcement stated: “Finland will deliver 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 cartridges for the assault rifles, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons.” The announcement didn’t specify the type of anti-tank weapons to be sent; however, and from Finish inventory these may have included APILAS, M72 LAWs or even NLAWs.
An APILAS seen in a video dating from 2021, filmed during fighting on the Donbas line of contact (via social media)
APILAS have been seen in Ukraine before Russia’s invasion in 2022, one was seen in a video dating from November 2021. It is unclear when the first APILAS were first transferred to Ukraine, and the weapons seen subsequently may originate from an earlier, pre-2022 invasion transfer.
APILAS in a Ukrainian armoury, c.2023 (via social media)
In April 2023 a photo of an APILAS in a Ukrainian armoury surfaced, sadly no markings are visible in the image. Several months later, on 19 and 20 June, Red Line Team, a unit affiliated with the Ukrainian security services special forces unit, SBU-Alpha, shared imagery from a range trip where a wide variety of anti-armour systems were fired. One of the weapons featured in the video was an APILAS.
(Red Line Team)
APILAS have also been seen with the Assault Bastards, a unit believed to be part of the Kraken Regiment’s 2nd Assault Company, which is part of the Department of Active Operations of Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate (the GUR). On 13 May, the unit shared a group photo which also featured three APILAS.
(Assault Bastards)
Most recently Shybenyk.Squad, another unit with Kraken’s 2nd Assault Company, shared a photo of an APILAS. This photo also appears to have possibly been taken at a range rather than in the field. Speaking to Shybenyk.Squad they explained that they have a decent number of APILAS in store and have used them operationally.
(Shybenyk.Squad)
APILAS has a reputation for having considerable concussive force when firing but Shybenyk.Squad noted that it’s blast isn’t that bad comparatively, describing it as ‘not critical’, during a recent trip to the training range the unit test fired 6 APILAS.
While APILAS are rarely seen in imagery from the conflict Shybenyk.Squad noted that they have a significant number of them in stores. They favour them for operations where more expensive complex systems, like NLAW or Javelin, may be lost. Shybenyk.Squad explained that “they can definitely be useful in certain situations… [systems such as] NLAW are much more expensive, high-tech, more effective, but losing it is much more problematic and in some risky tasks it is better to take a less expensive weapon.” In general they noted that they favour the AT4 and RGW-90 Matador “due to the weight to the corresponding firepower and ease of use.”
(Shybenyk.Squad)
Operationally they favour the APILAS’ for its penetration capabilities, with sources suggesting it can penetrate around 2 metres of concrete, making it is an excellent weapon for mouse-holing – breaching structures. Shybenyk.Squad explained that they “once used it to break through a small wall to storm a building from a blind side not protected by the enemy.”
APILAS is one of the most rarely seen anti-armour weapons currently being fielded in Ukraine so I’m pleased to be able to share some good first hand imagery and feedback on its capabilities.
Special thanks to Shybenyk.Squad for sharing additional imagery and sharing their thoughts on APILAS.
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 early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!
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.
In my previous article/video examining the development of Hoverboard UGVs, I mentioned an unmanned ground vehicle developed by the HUR’s International Legion. The ‘LEGIT’ UGV was unveiled in a short social media video on 28 June. The video showed the small UGV test firing a pair of Bulgarian Bullspike RPGs into a building. In this article/video we’ll explore examples of what I’m calling RPG-UGVs.
LEGIT is far from the first UGV to be seen equipped with an anti-armour weapon. The first I’ve come across is a short clip of a Ukrainian UGV being demonstrated with an expended RPG-22 mounted. The clip dates from September 2022, the drone does not appear to have any means of traversing the RPG but may have an elevation mechanism. The UGV has a camera mounted for navigation and presumably aiming.
Ukrainian UGV mounted with a remote weapon station with a PKT and two RPG-7s (via social media)
In early January 2023, Russian unmanned systems developers, Avtobot, shared a photograph of an RPG-7 being mounted on a prototype drone. Several days later they shared another photo, this time showing four RPG-26s mounted on a frame work with a green laser below them seemingly to aid aiming. How effective this would be is unclear and its the only time I’ve seen a laser mounted on an RPG-UGV.
In February 2023, Avtobot, shared a video of a heavily armed 6×6 wheeled drone, the Autobot 5, which appears to utilise hoverboard components. The drone is armed with PKT machine gun, a pair of RPG-7s and a pair of RPG-26s. In the test footage included in the video the drone is seen firing its machine gun and both the RPG-7 and RPG-26. There appear to be optical sensors mounted below the machine gun which enable aiming of the weapon systems. Noteably in one of the RPG-7 test firings the backblast blows off what appears to be a camera mounted to the rear of the drone.
At the beginning of March, Avtobot also shared a video showcasing the Autobot 6.2 (‘MINIGRAD’). The six-wheeled Autobot 6.2 is seen mounted with 12 RPGs, arrayed in rows of four. The caption notes that the system can be armed with a variety of RPG systems including: RPG-18/26/27, RPG-7 and even RPOs. In the caption Avtobot explain that the Minigrad can be used can either “individually to suppress fortified areas, destroy various equipment and infantry” and along with other UGVs. The footage does not show a test firing.
Avtobot’s Autobot 6.2 ‘MINIGRAD’ (via social media)
Several weeks later, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, shared an a series of photos on Telegram showing a demonstration of various unmanned systems. These photos included one of a 4 wheeled UGV equipped with two RPG-7s and a PKT machine gun.
On the 22 March, Avtobot shared a video showcasing a smaller four-wheeled armed with a machine gun and RPG-7. Interestingly, the caption notes that this was designed as a defensive drone. It’s also interesting to see the drone operated with a companion drone for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. The video shows the drone test firing both the PKT and RPG-7 as well as entering and operating inside a building.
On 8 May, a photograph of a larger Russian UGV surfaced, claimed to be operating in Ukraine, the UGV appears to be a Platform-M, a ground drone developed in the 2010s by the Research Technological Institute “Progress”, in Izhevsk. The Platform-M is equipped with a PKT machine gun and can be armed with four single-use RPGs.
BRM-1 seen in May 2023, equipped with six RPGs and its own little anti-drone cage (via social media)
On 8 July 2023, in one of their last videos shared on Telegram, Avtobot showcased the small four-wheeled UGV again, this time showing one equipped with an RPG-7 and the other with a PKT.
In early April 2024, Izvestiareported on a showcase at the Karbyshev Military Engineering Academy which included a range of unmanned ground systems. One of these appears to be a small four-wheeled UGV capable of being mounted with four single-use RPGs. I’ve been unable to find further details on the model seen in the photo.
Temerland is a Ukrainian company specialising in unmanned ground systems which has been operating since around 2021 developing their GNOM UGV. In April 2023, they shared a concept image of a UGV equipped with two RPG-7s. In December 2024 they posted a video showing the drone test firing its mounted PKM, notable its RPG-7 mounts are present but empty. Two years later in March 2025, they were featured in a Ukrainian TSN tv news piece showing a Gnom-VP21 UGV equipped with a PKM and two RPG-7s. A month later, on 10 April, they posted a video of the Gnom-VP21 test firing its PKM and RPG-7s at the range. Another version of the Gnom-VP21 with a different chassis configuration was shown in a photo shared in October 2024, while different it still has mounts for a PKM and an RPG-7.
65th Mechanised Brigade testing a Temerland Gnom-2 (via social media)
In late 2024, a series of small UGVs developed by the Omsk Armored Engineering Institute were highlighted in a Russian army report. These small, transportable and quick deployable drones include a number of variants including the ‘Shmel’ variant of the T-117, which is equipped with four RPG-7s and can be equipped with RPO-As.
In early April 2025, Ukraine’s 65th Mechanised Brigade shared a series of photographs showing the testing of a Temerland UGV armed with a PKM and an RPG-7, the caption describes it as a ‘Gnom-2’, a configuration similar to that seen in October 2024. This may indicate that Temerland’s Gnom UGVs are beginning to be tested by units of the Ukrainian armed forces.
On 6 April, the Russian Ministry of Defence and Russian news outlet Zvezda shared videos of the testing of tracked UGVs. One of the variants seen is equipped with five RPG-7s, though there appears to be mounts for another row of five on the bottom.
In late June a team from the Ukrainian 93rd Mechanised Brigade shared a video showing a logistics UGV mounted with a UB-16-57 57mm rocket launcher from a helicopter. The video shows the DIY multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) firing a series of 57mm rockets, the video does not show how the system is aimed but it does illustrate the recoil the drone experiences on firing.
GUR Legion’s LEGIT UGV with Bullspike RPGs (via social media)
Late June saw the unveiling of the aforementioned LEGIT, a small tracked UGV co-developed by operators and engineers from the HUR Legion’s Cyclone unmanned systems team. LEGIT is a multi-purpose drone capable of undertaking logistics and kamikaze roles. The video shows the LEGIT UGV armed with a pair of Bulgarian Bullspike RPGs on an articulated mount which can be raised and lowered to aim, while traverse is seemingly handled by manoeuvring the drone. The video concludes showing the RPG-UGV test firing at a building. No combat footage of LEGIT has surfaced yet.
Expanding on the concept of mounting a rocket launching system on a UGV, in early July 2025, the Ukrainian 92nd Assault Brigade created a miniature multiple launch rocket system on a cargo carrying UGV. The system has 15 tubes and seemingly fires 57mm rockets, the video doesn’t show the system in use and its unclear how it is aimed.
An improvised system with a UB-16-57 launcher mounted on a UGV (via social media)
Much like the RPG-armed aerial drones it appears that for now the kamikaze variants of UGVs are much more prevalent. The available imagery of UGVs actually in action largely shows either the kamikazes or drones equipped with remote machine guns. It seems that the ability to suppress a target with machine gun fire may be seen in many operational situations as the more useful payload for UGVs.
In recent weeks Russia has begun deploying North Korean-manufactured 107mm multiple rocket launch systems. These small rocket launchers are the latest of the North Korean weapon systems to enter Russian service.
The Type 75 is a copy of China’s Type 63 multiple rocket launcher, is a small towed, 12-tube system which an fire a variety of 107mm ammunition. The system was first sighted in Ukraine in early June, though its likely been in use since Spring 2025.
A Type 75 in Russian service (via social media)
The first footage reportedly shows a crew training with the Type 75 while the second shows the Type 75 being fired from concealment within a tree line. Several days later on 15 June, photographs of a Type 75 being mounted on the bed of a UAZ utility van were posted.
Russian Channel One correspondent Dmitry Kulko shared footage of a Type 75 in action on the 25 June. In his post Kulko notes that the weapon system has a range of 8.5km and is being used with high explosive fragmentation rockets.
Russian mechanics mounting a Type 75 on a UAZ truck (via social media)
On 27 June, a close up photograph of the system was shared on telegram. A week later on 5 July, a Russian Type 75 team shared video of them deploying and operating the system in the field. The video shows the heavily camouflaged MLRS being towed by an unmanned ground vehicle and then being loaded and fired. Deployment with a UGV is sensible as the system unloaded weighs over 600kg and would otherwise require a larger, more noticeable vehicle to move it. The video concludes with some ISR drone footage which is implied to be the impacts on target.
A Type 75 in Russian service firing from a tree line, July 2025 (via social media)
On 12 July, Ukraine’s 1st Separate Presidential Brigade shared footage claiming the first destruction of a Type 75 by drone-dropped ordnance. The videos caption notes that the system was spotted and engaged in the Kup’yansk region.
The Type 75 is just one of the latest in a series of weapon systems North Korea have provided to Russia, other aid includes ammunition for various artillery systems and more complex rocket artillery systems like the M1991 240mm MLRS.
Update – 18/7/25:
Ukraine’s 429th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems shared footage of a strike on a North Korean-supplied Type 75 multiple launch rocket system.
Ukraine's 429th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems shared footage of a strike on a North Korean-supplied Type 75 multiple launch rocket system.
The FORT-230 is Ukraine’s 9x19mm submachine gun. Since the start of 2025 these compact personal defence weapons have been seen more and more frequently. The FORT-230 was developed by RPC Fort for military and law enforcement use with development beginning long before Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The FORT-230 first emerged in 2021 when it was showcased as the Arms and Security exposition held in Kyiv. FORT or the Science Industrial Association of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, is Ukraine’s state-owned small arms manufacturer.
Data sheet for the 230, c.2021 (RPC FORT)
According to data from FORT the new 9mm submachine gun is a select-fire, blowback operated weapon which feed from 20 or 30 round proprietary magazines. It has a reported weight of 2.5kg (5.5lbs), a 190mm (7.5in) barrel and an overall length of 400mm (15.7in) (with the stock collapsed) and 600mm (23.6in) with the three-position stock fully deployed. It also had a folding front grip. The weapon’s controls are ambidextrous and has a non-reciprocating, reversible charging handle and it has a stated rate of fire of around 800 rounds per minute.
Ukraine intends to use the FORT-230 to arm some of the personnel currently issued AKS-74 and AKS-74u. These rifles are no longer in production and while Ukraine has large pre-war stocks of small arms dating to the Soviet era these stocks are finite and as the war continues the attrition rate of small arms means new weapons are needed. At 2.5kg (5.5lbs) the FORT-230 is around 500g and 1kg lighter than the AKS-74u and AKS-74 respectively while also being a smaller, more ergonomic package. The selection of a submachine gun chambered in a pistol calibre cartridge does, however, mean a sacrifice in ballistics compared to the 5.45x39mm chambered rifles.
In a video with my friend James Reeves from TFBtv, filmed at IWA 2025, FORT noted that the guns are in service with the Ukrainian national police (including the Kord special operations team), the Ukrainian National Guard and the Ukrainian militaries armoured units.
Combatant from 12th ‘Azov’ Brigade examining FORT-230 (via social media)
The first image to surface of one of the FORT-230s dates from early in the war when a photo of one of the guns, with a FORT-produced suppressor, was shared. This example has well worn finish and a 30 round magazine. The next sighting of one of the guns came in mid-November 2023 with some footage of one of the guns being fired at a range.
It wasn’t until late 2024 and early 2025 that the submachine guns began to appear with troops from various different units suggesting that larger scale production of the guns had begun. In January 2025, members of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov” appeared in range photos with a FORT-230.
On 2 February another Ukrainian combatant shared a photo featuring a pair of FORT-230s, the location and unit the individuals belong to is unclear. Around the same time a salvage team with Ukrainian National Guard’s 13th Khartiia Brigade were also confirmed to be equipped with the guns.
Artillerymen of 13th Khartiia Brigade Brigade with new FORT-230s (via the brigade’s social media)
In mid-February combatants from the Ukrainian Army’s 3rd Assault Brigade shared videos from range sessions training with new FORT-230s. The clips show the weapons rate of fire and reloading drills. An individual, who may be a combat medic with the 3rd Assault Brigade, also shared several photos of the weapon disassembled giving a good look at the FORT-230s component parts.
On 4 March, the 3011 Unit of the National Guard shared a photograph of an individual posing with a FORT-230. In late March, the 13th Khartiia Brigade also shared photos of a 2S1 self-propelled howitzer crew equipped with brand new FORT-230s.
On the 19 April the same combatant, who may be a member of 3rd Assault Brigade, shared an additional photo of a FORT-230 now painted up in a camouflage scheme.
A painted FORT-230 (via social media)
While it may seem like a step backwards to adopt a 9mm submachine gun as a personal defence weapon in 2025, there is some logic to the selection. The FORT-230 is a locally designed and manufactured weapon system which can be easily put into production and as a personal defence weapon its small size and more compact and ergonomic form factor, compared to AK-patterned carbines, makes sense for air crews, tank crews, gunners, medics and drone operators who don’t immediately need a rifle-calibre weapon. While this argument has its roots in some of the original reasoning behind why the submachine gun rose to prominence with many armies during the later-half of the 20th century it can also be noted that small arms design has advanced and there are rifle-calibre personal defence weapons with similar formfactors and weights now available. The FORT-230, however, is expedient for Ukraine and is probably more than sufficient for many of those likely to be issued them. The FORT-230 may be the last submachine gun to see widespread issue and use during wartime.
A recent report by The Times looking at the UK-led Operation Interflex, an international effort training Ukrainian personnel in the UK, featured a plethora of new photos that suggest the UK has now procured IWI Galil Ace Rifles to aid in the training of Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainian personnel training with Galil Ace 23s, UK, May 2025 (Richard Pohle via Ukrainian General Staff)
Previously, the UK procured a range of AK-pattern rifles in various calibres for use on Op Interflex these have also been supplemented by the purchase of a quantity of Bulgarian Arsenal AR-M9F, 5.56x45mm chambered rifles.
The new photos were taken by Richard Pohle, at a British Army training area in East Anglia and subsequently published by the Ukrainian General Staff. The UK Ministry of Defense states that more than 54,000 Ukrainians have been trained during Op Interflex.
Ukrainian recruits under the supervision of Canadian soldiers from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment practice searching for and identifying booby traps, during Operation UNIFIER on 28 January 2023 in the United Kingdom. (Corporal Eric Greico/Canadian Armed Forces)
The Galil Ace rifles seen in the photos are ACE 23s, the 5.56X45mm chambered variant with an 18.2in (463mm) barrel. These use Galil-pattern magazines rather than NATO STANAG magazines. The rifles are seen equipped with blank firing adaptors and in some photos what appears to be modules for laser engagement training systems.
Member of the Ukrainian National Guard, 2015, with Fort 228 (via social media)
Incidentally, the Ukrainian military is no stranger to Galil Ace pattern rifles having fielded a small number of Fort 228 rifles between 2012 and 2019. These are Galil Aces with markings from Ukrainian manufacturer Fort, their may have been some assembly of the rifles in Ukraine, under license similar to the Fort-marked Tavors used by elements of the Ukrainian armed forces.
The Galil Ace shares a number of design features with AK-pattern rifles and shares some of the same manual of arms. The Galil Ace, however, has a last round hold open, smaller selector levers and ambidextrous features such an ambidextrous charging handle. The UK likely selected the rifle due to some feature commonality, it’s availability and ability to mount a blank firing adapter.
Ukrainian personnel training with Galil Ace 23s, UK, May 2025 (Richard Pohle via Ukrainian General Staff)
Given the length of the training operation and it’s high tempo, with most Interflex infantry courses lasting around seven weeks, it is unsurprising to see additional rifles being fielded. It’s unclear when the Galil Aces were acquired for Interflex and these photographs are the first time they have been seen publicly.
Ukrainian personnel having fun while training, the style of container/house mock-ups and the presence of Galil Ace suggest this was filmed during Op Interflex training in the UK.
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 Jeff2146for help with imagery and sharing the UNRCA report.Militaryland.net was invaluable for tracing and checking some unit affiliations.
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 early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!
At the end of April, Ukraine announced the setting up of a marketplace for military technology and equipment. Unsurprisingly the new initiative has quickly garnered comparisons with commercial sites like Amazon and eBay.
The new site, Brave1 Market, seems to be an innovative idea which incorporates a number of interesting dynamics and features that the defence industry hasn’t really seen before. This includes a points system for verified destruction of enemy equipment – these points can then be spent in the marketplace. The idea of online marketplaces is already well established and highly popular in Ukraine with popular Ukrainian online marketplaces include Prom.ua, Rozetka.com.ua, and OLX.ua and of course the ubiquitous Chinese sites such as AliExpress.com
The new marketplace was set up by Brave1 which is an organisation set up by the Ukrainian government to bring together innovative companies with ideas and developments that can be used by Ukraine’s armed forces. They coordinate between various individuals, companies and state entities to get new equipment to the Ukrainian military. The Brave1 Market is their latest initiative.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, said “Brave1 Market will become the Amazon for the military — giving units the ability to buy exactly what they need, right when they need it. This will solve the problem of spreading effective innovations faster.” The aim of the site being to get the latest useful kit to units which have a proven track record of being effective and also fostering new capabilities for units.
Much has been made of the site’s ‘gamification of war’, essentially making military operations a competition and this is most evident from the large bar chart on the site’s front page which prominently shows the approximate number of points various drone-operating units have accrued. The chart shows the 10 top performing drone units over the previous month, the 414th Unmanned Strike Aviation Brigade, also known as Magyar’s Birds is well ahead.
The game-like points system is known as ‘Battle Points’ which are accrued when visual evidence of the destruction of Russian troops and equipment is shared through the Ukrainian military’s Delta is a situational awareness and battlefield management system. The points system is dynamic meaning points for various systems can be increase or decreased depending on operational goals but the basic values break down as:
6 points for eliminating an enemy soldier
20 points for damaging a tank or AFV
40 points for destroying a tank or AFV
Up to 50 points for eliminating a mobile rocket system, depending on its caliber
An example of the value of the points was shared by the Ukrainian government: Magyar’s Birds has amassed over 16,000 points as of April, this is said to be enough for approximately 500 FPV drones, 500 drones equipped for night operations, 100 heavy lift drones, and 40 reconnaissance UAVs.
The Brave1 Market currently features over 1,000 products across a number of primary categories including: aerial drones, ground drones, electronic warfare systems like jammers, components and accessories and software. Unsurprisingly there is both a public catalogue and a ‘closed catalogue’ for equipment which is deemed sensitive and requires users to log in via the Delta system.
In the future Brave1 aims to introduce additional features to the market place that will allow units to browse and submit direct requests to manufacturers aiming to speed up the procurement processes. Additionally, the platform will also serve as a verified fundraising tool enabling individuals to support units.
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 early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!
Way back in February 2024, I published an article/video discussing sightings of one of the so-called Franken-SAM systems provided to Ukraine by Western allies. The ASRAAM-armed system was developed and provided by the UK but until this year little information about it had been confirmed. On 10 May the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that they system is called ‘Raven’ and a total of 13 of the systems have been pledged.
Five Raven Air Defence Systems due to be dispatched to Ukraine (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
The previously available imagery showed that the system comprised two AIM-132 Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM) mounted on a Supacat HMT 600 (6×6) vehicle. The vehicles are believed to be former Soothsayer ECM carriers brought out of storage. Also visible is what appears to be a mast-mounted sensor unit positioned behind the cab, on the vehicle’s flatbed. This appears to be a Chess Dynamics Hawkeye which likely includes electro-optical and infrared sensors used for targeting.
Gravehawk – UK-developed containerised air defence system (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
The UK-developed Raven is one of several ad hoc short-range air defense systems developed by the UK for Ukraine, the other being Gravehawk, a containerised system which utilises R-73 air-to-air missiles, which was unveiled in February 2025. Both systems are part of an effort to affordably and quickly bolster Ukraine’s air defences. In October 2023 a pair of videos shared by the Ukrainian air force gave a glimpse of the system in action. The both filmed at night shows a launch but the vehicle is not visible. The second, shared on 12 October, by Ukraine’s Air Command – South shows the successful engagement of a Russian long range loitering munition. As the darkness is lit up by the missile launch, the Supacat 6×6 High Mobility Transporter is briefly visible.
Raven seen in Ukraine, Feb. 2024 (via Social Media)
ASRAAM uses infrared homing and can lock onto its target after launch. It has an air-launched range of more than 25km but this is likely shorter when used in a ground launched role. The system may be used in conjunction with radar systems which feeds target data to the missile. A key feature of the ASRAAM is its ability to lock-on after launch, theoretically allowing it to be vectored onto a target in the air before it begins IR homing.
The system, however, isn’t ideal with limited ready-to-fire capacity on the launcher ramp, with just two rails, and no protection for the missiles themselves, from either the elements or from potential fragmentation or impact damage if attacked. The ad-hoc air defence system first saw action in Ukraine in August 2023, and represents an ingenious improvisation utilising a highly capable missile in an air defence role it was never envisaged in. In December 2023 UK Ministry of Defence summarised their development:
“In summer 2022, a joint MoD-MBDA team developed air defence systems to fire ASRAAM from the ground for the first time. Within four months of initiating the surface launched ASRAAM project, these air defence systems were developed, manufactured, trialled and Ukrainian crews trained on their usage, on UK soil, before being transferred into Ukrainian hands.”
In late 2023, it was reported that the UK had supplied “a handful” of the missile-equipped Supacat trucks. They were believed to be in use in near the front and in the Kyiv region, defending key infrastructure, against Shahed-136/Geran-2 long-range loitering munition attacks. In December 2023, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that a further 200 ASRAAMs would be provided to Ukraine and that the systems in-country had achieved a “successful hit rate reported as high as 90% against some Russian air targets.” ASRAAM’s payload, a 10kg blast-fragmentation warhead, is designed to destroy aerial targets with minimal collateral damage.
Raven Air Defence System, based on the HMT 600 Supacat vehicle and the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
A number of videos showing glimpses of the system itself or the system in action were shared throughout late 2023 and 2024. On 12 October 2023, footage of a night launch against a Shahed one-way munition was shared including thermal footage from the systems sensors. In late February 2024, footage, again from the Raven’s sensors, showed the successful engagement of a Russian ZALA reconnaissance drone.
A month later on 20 March, both external and system footage of a daytime engagement of a Russian Supercam S350 reconnaissance UAV was shared. Later in March additional footage of what was also claimed to be a Supercam was also shared.
Raven Air Defence System, based on the HMT 600 Supacat vehicle and the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
On 3 April, thermal camera footage of another UAV interception was posted on Ukrainian social media. The speed and vector of the missile suggests it was a Raven-launched ASRAAM. On 14 April 2024, a short clip showing an ASRAAM missile with a message written on it ‘Rowdy Company’, followed by footage of a night-time launch was shared.
In early May 2024, Russian Telegram channels shared drone footage of what they claimed as the destruction of one of the systems by a Lancet loitering munition. While footage of the systems in action is few and far between another daytime video of the system in action was shared in mid-September 2024, having been posted to TikTok.
Most recently, in late November 2024, a video containing footage from a number of Ukrainian anti-aircraft units showed several interceptions of Russian drones and a launch from what appear to be Raven system.
In March 2025, a couple of photos were shared by the UK Ministry of Defence showing Rachel Reeves, the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer being briefed on Raven during a visit to RAF Northolt, though the name of the system was not disclosed at the time they gave the best side-on look at the system to-date.
UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer being briefed on Raven during a visit to RAF Northolt, March 2025 (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
The UK Ministry of Defence unveiled the Raven officially on 10 May 2025. In a video posted to the UK MoD YouTube channel the system was shown in detail and some interesting stats were shared. Colonel Olly Todd, Military Assistant Head of Taskforce Kindred [Taskforce Kindred refers to the MoD’s effort to provide equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), from UK stockpiles and rapid procurement.] noted that the UK has provided approximately 400 ASRAAM (which were near the end of their service life) to Ukraine and from 400 launches the systems’ engagement success rate stands at around 70%. The video also confirms that eight Raven systems were deployed to Ukraine in 2022 and a further five are set to be provided in 2025.
Raven was developed in just three months with experts from MBDA, Supacat at the RAF’s Air & Space Warfare Centre involved in the process. It combines a Supacat HMT-600 vehicle with the MBDA-manufactured ASRAAM using a bespoke launch assembly which integrates launch pylons taken from legacy UK aircraft including Hawk, Jaguar and Tornadoes. Unsurprisingly Raven and Gravehawk use the same control system and likely share the same system-integrated sensor units for tracking and identifying targets before locking on with the missiles’ seekers before launch.
ASRAAM mounted on a Raven air defence system (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
While ASRAAM is still in production it is worth noting that other than the UK, the only other current user is India – though several Middle Eastern nations have reportedly adopted it, this means the stock of older missiles ready for disposal will be somewhat limited. It is so far unclear if the Raven systems could also be adapted to launch other missiles such as the R-73 used by the Gravehawk.
Photo of the Raven Air Defence System’s Fire and Control Unit (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
Despite the potential limited availability of the missiles the relatively cost-effective price-tag of an ASRAAM, reported to be around £200,000 (or $260,000), makes the Raven a useful system for not only protecting key Ukrainian infrastructure but also, as has been seen in some of the footage available, engaging Russian reconnaissance drones which feed important information back to Russia’s command and control apparatus.
Updates – 25/07/25:
The UK will provide Ukraine with hundreds of ASRAAM air defence missiles, helping to protect them from Russian drone and missile attacks.
The missiles will be funded using £70m worth of interest generated from seized Russian assets.
On 24 October, the Ukrainian Air Forces’ Air Command “West” social media shared a photo of a Raven system, noting that it had destroyed 24 Shaheds and several cruise missiles.
A video was also shared showing the successful engagement of Russian Kh-59 and Kh-101 cruise missiles.
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 early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!
The Armourers Bench 
