It is not often that we get Special Forces captured on images, and catching the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces with Malyuk rifles is very rare, to say the least.

The Malyuk or Vulcan is designed and manufactured in Ukraine, by IPI. It looks like they are using Aimpoint red dot sights.

Below: Knock-knock, anybody home? Two Ukranian SOFs with Malyuk rifles followed by a U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Photo: 1st Lt. Benjamin Haulenbeek

Automatic rifle “Vulcan” (MALYUK). Photo by IPI.

Below: Ukraine’s Special Ops join 16 nations at Combined Resolve XI

HOHENFELS, Germany – Special operations forces from five nations participated in exercise Combined Resolve XI at U.S. Army Europe’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center.

Combined Resolve is a U.S. Army Europe-led exercise series that improves readiness and interoperability amongst allies and partners, incorporating U.S. rotational units aligned under Operation Atlantic Resolve. More than 5,500 total soldiers from 16 nations took part in CbR XI.

Multinational special operations forces are integrated into Combined Resolve to improve coordination between conventional forces and provide unique special operations capabilities to the combined joint force.

CbR XI marked the first time Ukrainian SOF has participated in a large joint, multinational exercise at JMRC.

Pictures above and background by 1st Lt. Benjamin Haulenbeek.

Below: More reference pictures from IPI.

Photo by IPI: “The automatic rifle «Vulcan»(«MALYUK») is the best combat effectiveness solution for a wide range of tasks.”

Previously from TFB: Malyuk bullpup out of the Ukraine, Ukraine adopts “Malyuk” bullpup rifle and InterProInvest Malyuk from Ukraine.

You can also check Wikipedia on the Vepr (Ukrainian Assault Rifle) and InterProInvest.

You can compare the Malyuk/Vulkan to the RPC Fort (Fort-221), which is essentially an IWI TAR-21 (Israel) built by RPC Fort in Ukraine under license. Instead of the 5.56x45mm NATO round, it is also designed to chamber the 5.45x39mm round (among others).

For the Fort-221 check these articles from TFB: Ukraine Manufacturing Tavor in 5.45x39mm and IWI Tavor X95 in 5.45×39 mm.

Thanks to Hrachya H for identifying the rifle.