Moscow (HRNW)- A video circulating on social media appears to show a military training exercise in Russia descending into chaos after a soldier operating a powerful rotary machine gun reportedly lost control of the weapon, forcing nearby personnel to take cover.
According to reports, the viral footage has sparked widespread discussion online, with many users describing it as a major training failure and questioning the use of such a powerful weapon in the exercise. However, the video has not been independently verified, and the exact date, location, and circumstances of the incident remain unclear.
The footage allegedly shows a training exercise involving a Russian Army mobile fire group using a YakB-12.7 four-barreled rotary machine gun, a weapon originally designed for attack helicopters rather than ground-mounted operations.
At the start of the video, a soldier is seen operating the mounted weapon while another officer stands nearby. Moments after firing begins, the mounting system appears unable to withstand the weapon’s recoil, causing the machine gun to rotate uncontrollably around its axis instead of remaining aimed at its target.
The operator is seen spinning with the weapon as he attempts to regain control, but the machine gun continues firing while rotating at high speed. According to the footage, the force of the movement throws the nearby officer over an obstacle before another soldier eventually manages to stop the weapon.
The video also appears to show the officer attempting to touch the machine gun barrel shortly after the incident, only to pull his hand away immediately because it had become extremely hot from continuous firing.
There has been no official confirmation regarding the authenticity of the footage or whether anyone was injured during the incident.
Following the video’s circulation, social media users speculated that a technical failure in the mounting system or an imbalance caused by the ammunition box may have contributed to the loss of control. Others commented on the apparent attempt to touch the overheated barrel immediately after sustained firing.
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