Ukrainian Troops in Action

by Miles

Published: September 4th, 2014

An interesting wrap around a soldier’s AK74.

Recently, World Conflict Films promoted some combat footage from a Ukrainian infantry battalion named the “Donbass Battalion” in action against rebels in the Ukraine. Some of the Youtube movie is very revealing as to what the Ukrainan forces are actually using in combat. The video can be watched here. It lasts for 3 minutes and 47 seconds, and is interesting from a military standpoint as to how the Ukrainians conduct their operations. But for the purposes of TFB, we’ll be looking at the small arms in use by the Infantrymen. All of the ensuing pictures are screenshots from the clip about the battalion.

This RPK74 has a scope mounted to his rifle. The soldier is actively returning fire in this scene. This particular soldier is disciplined enough to know not to fire from a window but several meters from it, thus concealing his shots. In this role, the machine gunner is utilizing himself in more of a Designated Marksman role, than as a support weapon.

Notice the sniper with SVD peering through the window at right. Also throughout the video, soldiers are taking a break on the floor while others are returning fire at the same time.

A soldier returning fire with his RPK74 while another one takes cover.

At top left corner, a soldier is seen launching a GP30 grenade launcher. Whether he purposely withdrew his magazine just for the grenade shot or just happened to launch one without the magazine in is unknown. This is puzzling as the platoon pictured is shown taking effective fire from the enemy.

Notice the soldier with ammunition tin strapped to his back, he must be the new guy.

Apparently Ukrainian operators have alot in common with their American counterparts in the facial department. Notice how the stock of the AK74 in the foreground is tactically painted. And the stock on the solder on the left has a recoil pad on his rifle.

A shotgun with what appears to be a holographic sight and shell carrier.

An interesting wrap around a soldier's AK74. It seems a little surprising that despite all the modern tactical gear these soldiers have, the Kevlar's, the vests, the goggles, the gloves, not one of them is seen with a one point sling on their weapons, instead most have the conventional type two point.

This grenadier has the same pouch carrier for his GP30 that has been in constant use by the Soviet Union since the 1970s. Notice the tactical one strap backpack on the lower left.

One man is opening up ammunition supplies for 5.45x39mm, and the other is linking grenades for an automatic grenade launcher. It is interesting that civilian shooters in the States are using the same kind of 5.45 tins.

What appears to be a M76 LAW rocket strapped to this soldier's back. His RPK74 has a scope attached as is evident in another picture.

#Shotgun #News #Rifle #Ammunition #Military #Ukraine #Ak74 #Rpk

Miles

Infantry Marine, based in the Midwest. Specifically interested in small arms history, development, and usage within the MENA region and Central Asia. To that end, I run Silah Report, a website dedicated to analyzing small arms history and news out of MENA and Central Asia.Please feel free to get in touch with me about something I can add to a post, an error I've made, or if you just want to talk guns. I can be reached at miles@tfb.tv

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3 of 27 comments

Jzb on Sep 09, 2014

These are the bastards who are killing their own countrymen. Imaging for a second that Democrats protested a Republican president, then held a coup and took over. Now Imagine The Democrats sent the US army out to attack every state that hold a majority Republican vote. That is whats happening in Ukraine. I have family there near Donetsk and my in-laws town is bombed every night and several of their neighbors have been killed. Not because they support Russia, but because they live in a region that mainly speaks russian and the new Ukraine government is promising land to their soldiers by forcing out their own russian speaking countrymen and trying to make them move to Russia. It's a terrible thing happening over there and it was sponsored by Obama.

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- Jennifer Lowe on Sep 09, 2014
  
  @jzb Americans are too stupid to understand this. They only know "Putin bad", like little babies they must be told what to think even though their eyes tell them different.
  
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Mkc on Sep 09, 2014

http://en.slovoidilo.ua/art...

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