Footage circulating on social media appears to show a Russian training exercise thrown into chaos after a soldier lost control of a heavy rotary machine gun, sending it spinning wildly and forcing nearby troops to scatter for cover. The Daily Mail has not been able to independently verify the clip, including when or where it was filmed, but it has already drawn widespread attention and speculation online.
The video, which has spread rapidly across social media, is described online as showing a Russian mobile fire group during a training exercise involving a YakB-12.7 rotary machine gun. According to the footage, the exercise begins routinely, with a soldier positioned behind the mounted weapon and another serviceman standing close by as firing gets under way. Within moments, however, the enormous recoil generated by the gun appears to overwhelm its mounting system, sending the weapon spinning violently around its support while still discharging rounds.
A soldier thrown from the weapon
As the machine gun rotates faster, the soldier operating it can be seen clinging on before being whipped around the mount and eventually thrown over a nearby barrier. The weapon appears to continue spinning under its own momentum, still firing as nearby troops duck and scramble out of its path. It is only when another serviceman rushes in and manages to bring the gun to a stop that the chaos subsides. Moments later, that same soldier reaches for the barrel, only to pull his hand away sharply, apparently having discovered just how hot the metal had become after the sustained burst of automatic fire.
What is the YakB-12.7?
The weapon shown in the footage is described online as a YakB-12.7, a 12.7×108mm four-barrel rotary machine gun originally developed in the Soviet Union for use aboard the Mil Mi-24 “Hind” attack helicopter. In its intended role, the gun is powered and stabilised by the aircraft itself, rather than being fired from a static ground mount. Unlike conventional machine guns, its rotating barrels are driven by an external electric or hydraulic system rather than the recoil generated by firing, and it is capable of unleashing between 4,000 and 5,000 rounds per minute — figures that create substantial recoil forces requiring a robust mounting system to control.
Because the weapon was designed for aerial use, where a helicopter’s structure absorbs much of the recoil, using it on an improvised ground mount would be highly unusual if the footage accurately reflects what took place. Military analysts have suggested that, assuming the video is genuine, an improperly secured mount or a failure to lock the weapon in place could explain why it began rotating out of control during the exercise.
Unverified, but drawing plenty of reaction
No information has been released about whether anyone was injured, and key details, including the exact location, date and broader circumstances of the exercise, remain unclear. There has also been no official statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence confirming where or when the incident occurred. The clip has nonetheless prompted a wave of commentary online, with viewers speculating about what caused the loss of control. One person wrote: “Physics is cool. Instructor grabbing hot barrel after? Chef’s kiss.” Another suggested the mounting arrangement itself may have been at fault.
Unverified footage of unusual incidents during Russian military training exercises regularly circulates on social media, and experts continue to urge caution before treating such clips as authentic until their origin and context can be properly established.
