Sky News Australia

Russian troop nearly kills his leader after machine gun firing goes horribly wrong

A dramatic video appearing to show a Russian soldier being violently thrown from a machine gun platform and nearly killing his instructor has gone viral online. The clip first surfaced on Russian Telegram channels on July 12. It shows a soldier allegedly firing a YakB-12.7 four-barrel rotary machine gun – originally designed for Mi-24 Hind helicopters – that was mounted on an improvised stand on a truck. As soon as he pulled the trigger, intense recoil spun the turret out of control and flung the soldier from the platform while the gun kept firing wildly. Nearby troops scrambled for safety, with no serious injuries reported. The video emerges as US President Donald Trump has approved Ukraine’s production of Patriot air defence missiles. Former US Army Vice Chief of Staff General Jack Keane welcomed the move but said he wished it had come sooner. "It is crucial," he told Sky News Australia. "I wish this decision had been made sooner." Keane also told Sky News Australia that Putin is now targeting civilians to pressure Ukraine. “The tide of war has turned against him and he’s trying to punish and kill as many civilians as possible to put pressure on Zelensky to make concessions,” Keane said. “I guarantee you he will not make concessions."