A video has gained significant attention online, allegedly featuring a Russian soldier struggling to control a rotary machine gun. The incident reportedly occurred during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began on February 24, 2022, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Kyiv’s defense and intelligence agencies, along with affiliated social media channels, frequently share videos depicting Russian military mishaps such as battlefield losses, drone attacks, failed operations, and equipment accidents.
The viral footage shows a soldier preparing a YakB-12.7 rotary machine gun, a Soviet-era design initially intended for helicopters but adapted for ground use. This Gatling-style, gas-operated weapon can fire up to 5,000 rounds per minute. In the video, the gun is mounted on the ground rather than on its typical platform, the Soviet-era Mi-24 “Hind” attack helicopter.
When the trigger is pulled, the gun becomes uncontrollable, swinging wildly. The soldier, wearing sneakers, retreats just as the weapon begins its erratic movements. Another soldier narrowly escapes harm, though he burns his hand on the barrel. The location and date of the incident have not been verified, and Newsweek has attempted to contact the Russian Defense Ministry for comment. The clip has been viewed over 16 million times as of Monday.
Observers highlighted that Russian troops often face inadequate training and equipment, contributing to incidents like these. Social media commentary suggested the video depicted a training session involving a Russian anti-drone mobile fire group. A pro-Ukrainian account, War Monitor, described the event, stating the gun was meant for helicopter use but adapted to combat drones.
United 24, a Ukrainian outlet, made light of the incident, claiming Russian fire teams were “mastering 360° defense.” Another account, Special Kherson Cat, acknowledged the training mishap with the machine gun. The post criticized the decision to mount an aircraft gun, designed for angular recoil, onto a ground setup, likening the experience to handling a regular machine gun.
Open-Source X account, OSINT Defender, commented on the near-fatal outcome for several soldiers involved, reinforcing the chaotic nature of the training session. Ice Universe, another account, noted the YakB-12.7’s intense recoil is manageable in its intended setting but problematic on a simple ground mount.