Viral Footage Shows Russian Soldier Losing Control of Rotary Machine Gun

A video gaining widespread attention shows a Russian soldier struggling with a rotary machine gun, originally intended for helicopter use, but modified for ground operations. This incident is part of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict that started with Moscow’s invasion on February 24, 2022. Ukrainian defense and intelligence bodies, along with affiliated social media, frequently release videos of Russian military setbacks, including drone strikes and equipment failures.

The footage features a soldier handling a YakB-12.7 Gatling-style machine gun, known for its high firing capacity of up to 5,000 rounds per minute. Instead of being mounted on the Soviet-era Mi-24 ‘Hind’ attack helicopter, this gun was fastened to a ground mount. Shortly after the trigger is engaged, the weapon dislodges, swinging erratically. The soldier, seen in casual sneakers, quickly steps away. Another nearby soldier narrowly avoids the flailing gun, while accidentally burning his hand when he touches the barrel. The exact location and time remain unverified.

There have been no formal reports about injuries from this event. Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comments, noting that views of the clip had exceeded 16 million as of Monday. Observers have attributed the incident to the lack of adequate training for many Russian soldiers, as indicated by the reported losses of 1,420,690 Russian troops according to Kyiv.

Social media users discussing the footage have suggested that this incident occurred during a training session with a Russian mobile anti-drone fire team. A pro-Ukrainian account, War Monitor, described the scene as an ‘insane video’ of a Russian soldier losing control of a heavy machine gun, designed for attack helicopters, now used against drones. Ukrainian media outlet United 24 sarcastically commented on Russia’s ‘360° defense.’ Another pro-Ukrainian account, Special Kherson Cat, noted: ‘Russian mobile fire group training goes wrong with the YakB-12.7 machine gun.’

Posts highlight how inappropriate the equipment repurpose was, with a user noting the ‘brutal angular recoil,’ designed to be managed by an aircraft, now causing chaos on a ground setup. OSINT Defender remarked on the danger this posed to nearby soldiers. Meanwhile, the Ice Universe account highlighted the unexpected challenges presented by the gun’s powerful recoil when not properly mounted.