Russian Soldier Nearly Killed by Improvised Anti-Drone Gun

A training exercise involving the Military of Russia nearly resulted in a fatality when an improvised anti-drone mobile fire unit malfunctioned. During the drill, a Yak-B 12.7mm heavy machine gun—originally designed for Mi-24 attack helicopters—was bolted to a flatbed truck on a free-spinning mount. The weapon's asymmetrical recoil caused it to spin violently, throwing the primary gunner from his position and spraying live fire across the training ground. A second soldier narrowly avoided the gunfire before regaining control of the weapon.

Viral footage of the incident shows the operator being flung to the ground as the rotary gun, capable of firing up to 5,000 rounds per minute, wrenched loose from its mounting. While the exact time and location of the exercise remain undisclosed, reports indicate these makeshift units are being deployed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks on supply lines and logistics hubs heading toward Crimea. Russian military planners have turned to improvised defenses due to a shortage of purpose-built air defense systems.

The accident occurs as Ukraine intensifies drone strikes against Russian energy infrastructure and its shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov. Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems, reported that his forces hit 15 Russian vessels overnight, bringing the total to 105 struck in the Sea of Azov over eight days. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described this drone campaign as long-term sanctions.