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.
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A number of Chinese small arms and light weapons have turned up in Ukraine since the invasion in 2022, including Type 69 RPGs and Type 56 rifles. Another weapon that has been seen infrequently in Ukraine is the W-85 heavy machine gun. Chambered in the Russian 12.7×108mm round, the W85 uses a long stroke gas piston system, and with mount weighs around 39 kg (86lbs). The W85 is predominantly an export weapon and has seen use around the world.
The W85 was first seen in imagery from Ukraine in late October 2022, mounted on what appears to be a Fort Ranger pick-up. This technical was seen in a series of photos through November, with the gun mounted on a pintle. The source suggests it was used to shoot down Shahed-136/Geran-2 one-way munitions (long range kamikaze drones) when they first began to appear in southern Ukraine.
The next sighting came in January 2024, when a photo of Ukrainian Territorial Defence forces posing next to another technical was shared. The gun appears to be mounted on a locally-produced mount on the back of a Nissan Navara.
In February 2025, 122nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade shared photos of what they describe as a ‘mobile fire team’ equipped with a pick-up and a HMMWV. As well as an W85, an M2 Browning and a DShK. A month later at the start of March Weapons Illustrated shared a video showing a W85 being disassembled. The gun in the video can be identified as a Norinco CS/LM3 HMG from the receiver markings. This is interesting as the CS/LM3 is an export version of the W85 chambered in the 12.7x99mm NATO caliber. It is unclear if any of the other W85s sighted are also this variant and chambered, as imagery doesn’t enable us to positively identify them.
On 22 May, the 122nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade shared photos of a W85 outfitted for engaging Russian UAVs like Shahed-136s. The gun appears to have a high-power light mounted.
On 25 October, Ukrainian photographer Mykyta Kuznetsov photographed a mobile anti-drone unit on the outskirts of Kharkiv. The unit was photographed with their pick-up mounted with a W85 on a pintle. The Ford Ranger’s bed has been removed and replaced with a circular platform to allow the gunner to move more easily when engaging moving targets.
The number of W85 in Ukraine is unknown but likely small. It is unclear how the guns seen in 2022 arrived in country or if any of those seen subsequently originated from the US’ transfer of seized Iranian arms shipments. It appears that the guns have largely been issued to Territorial Defence Force units, which are predominantly tasked with air defence operations against Russian Shahed one-way munitions.
Addendum: There has been at least one sighting of a Chinese Type 54, a clone of the DSHk, in Ukrainian service dating from March 2024.
Chinese Type 54 HMG in service with Ukrainian forces during training, March 2024 pic.twitter.com/ZmhMfBqEIc
An additional photo of a W85, dating from 2023, posted by the 241st Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defence Force.
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Following on from our recent examination of RPG-UGVs a new armed unmanned ground vehicle variant has appeared – the MANPADS-UGV. MANPADS or Man-Portable Air Defence Systems have been a key weapon during the war in Ukraine. They enable troops to engage drones and UAVs of various sizes as well as helicopters.
(LIBKOS/28th Mechanized Brigade)
On 4 August, photographers Libkos, shared a video showcasing an Igla-1 MANPADS mounted on a four-wheeled UGV operated by Ukraine’s 28th Mechanized Brigade. In an Instagram post, Libkos explained the idea behind the MANPADS-UGV:
“If before they were quite easy to shoot down with MANPADS, now Russian UAVs control every movement of our infantrymen and often do not even allow them to leave the trench. That is why the guys from @28ombr created this robotic platform. It independently guides and hits any large air target. The guys have already tested it in action and it already has one enemy helicopter on its account. So we are collecting 10 more such platforms. This is an effective and innovative weapon that is independently manufactured by the military from 28 Ombr.”
— Matthew Moss | The Armourer's Bench (@historicfirearm) August 4, 2025
The available imagery, shared by Libkos and the brigade, shows the UGV being test-fired. The Igla is mounted on an angled mount, which seems to have a degree of elevation and traverse. There appears to be a motor and servo system attached to the front of the weapon to act on its trigger. Behind this is what may be a camera and transmitter/receiver. In part of the promo video a pair of operators are seen in a nearby trench, one wearing a headset for the UGV’s camera feed.
Ukrainian media outlet Defenderreports that the MANPADS-UGV has been named “Alycha”.
(LIBKOS/28th Mechanized Brigade)
It’s difficult to tell how the system would be used in practice or how effective it would be. MANPADS such as Igla-1 use infrared homing and require the operator to track the target before launching. The operator has to visually detect the target, activate the power supply unit, aim at the target via the fore and rear sights and pull the trigger. While the operator doesn’t have to track the target once the missile is fired they must track it immediately prior to launch. How capable the UGV is of doing this is currently unclear. For the best image clarity and response time for identifying and tracking a target it would make sense for the UGV to utilise a fibre-optic control cable but there is no evidence of this in the available imagery.
It is unclear if the system can be equipped with different types of MANPADS. In theory the UGV could be mounted with Igla, Strela, Piorun or even Stinger, as such one variable to consider is the system’s engagement range. The Igla-1’s operational engagement range is 6km (3.5 miles) with an 11,000 feet engagement ceiling. Given Ukraine’s focus on defensive strong-points the gap between positions able to engage aerial threats with a MANPADS may be relatively wide. If small Ukrainian units are defending strong-points along a stretch of front they may have a limited embedded anti-air capability. A MANPADS team would have to expose itself to reach various points along the unit’s sector of the front so having a UGV which can be rapidly deployed makes sense.
(LIBKOS/28th Mechanized Brigade)
Nevertheless the concept is an interesting one. the 28th Mechanised Brigade claims that the system has already been used operationally and the UGV has successfully engaged an enemy helicopter. Verifiable proof of this kill has not yet been provided. There are no doubt useful applications for the system, such as patrolling an area, as a quick reaction asset and in removing the need for troops to leave cover to engage aerial threats.
There are a lot of different types of general purpose machine guns in use in Ukraine and one of the most surprising to appear so far is the M60. The first appearance of an M60 in Ukraine came in September 2024, when the 23rd Mechanised Brigade shared an album of training photos which included an individual firing an M60D.
A month later the same brigade shared another photograph of the M60D. The M60D is usually mounted on helicopters as a door gun and as such it has been adapted with no stock or traditional rear sight, instead it has a pair of rear spade grips and a large ring sight. It’s unclear how many M60Ds are in Ukraine or where the guns originated from as a number of potential donor countries operate M60Ds as door guns. It may be the case that a donor nation provided the gun aboard a donated helicopter, we have previously seen French AANF-1 GPMGs appear in Ukraine – likely supplied with VAB APCs. Alternatively, the gun(s) may simply have been provided by a donor for whom it was surplus to requirements and ready for disposal.
Another sighting of an M60D came in May 2025, when the 65th Mechanized Brigade shared a series of photographs of a machine gun team training with one of the guns. Sadly, no markings are visible to confirm if this might be the same gun as previously seen with the 23rd Mechanised Brigade.
The M60D is not the easiest variant to utilise in a ground role with the absence of a stock to shoulder the weapon making it somewhat difficult to aim and keep on target while firing. It does have a folding carry handle but it also had an exposed trigger linkage which is far from ideal for ground use. The best use for this variant would probably be as a pintle-mounted an anti-air gun.
Most recently a new variant of the M60 was seen in a photo posted, on 18 July, by the 20th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems “K-2”. The gun appears to be either an M60E3 or an M60E4, with what appears to be a 22 inch barrel, the first ground role variant to be seen in-country. As with the M60Ds it is unclear where this M60 may have originated from, there are only a small number of nations which operate the weapons which may have donated it. Elements of the Czech Republic’s special operations forces operate E4s in small numbers but its unclear if this is the source of the gun seen in the recent photo.
It remains unclear just how many of the various variants of M60 are on the ground in Ukraine and where they came from but it is one of the weapons that I’ll continue to track, if you spot any let me know!
Update 12/10/25:
Serhii Filimonov, a member of the 1st Assault Regiment (Da Vinci Wolves), has shared several photos that appear to include an M60E4.
There is also a short video of him firing the weapon. Below is a still from the video.
Update – 17/11/25:
On 14 November, Raven Group, affiliated with the Ukrainian Directorate of Intelligence, shared a serious of range photos featuring an M60E4 (in what appears to be the Mk43 Mod 0 configuration). [H/t to Praise the Steph].
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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.
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.
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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:
Another photo of Ukrainian personnel training with Beretta SC70/90s. Date, unit & location unknown.
— Matthew Moss | The Armourer's Bench (@historicfirearm) May 1, 2025
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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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 Tyskshared 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.
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.”
Our friend with his M26 MASS rifle during exercises. His opinion on M26 is below:
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… pic.twitter.com/r1YxVNHbED
The Armourers Bench 