A Russian military training exercise was disrupted when a soldier lost control of a mounted YakB-12.7 rotary machine gun, causing the weapon to spin uncontrollably and forcing other troops to seek cover. The incident was captured on video and circulated widely on social media.

The footage appears to show the soldier firing the weapon, which is designed for use on helicopters, when its mounting system apparently fails under the recoil. The heavy machine gun begins to rotate violently around its support, pulling the operator with it as he struggles to maintain control.

The operator is eventually thrown over a barrier as the weapon continues to discharge rounds while spinning. Other servicemen are seen ducking and scrambling to get out of the path of the unpredictable fire. Another soldier eventually approaches the spinning gun and appears to stop it.

The soldier cannot hold onto the weapon any longer and it flung over a fence

After stopping the weapon, another serviceman is seen reaching toward the barrel but quickly pulling his hand away, indicating it was extremely hot from sustained firing.

Another serviceman eventually approaches and appears to stop the machine gun from rotating.

The exact location, date, and circumstances of the training exercise remain unclear, and no information has been released regarding any potential injuries. Online commentary has speculated on the cause, with some users suggesting a flawed mounting system or an imbalance in the weapon's configuration contributed to the loss of control.

The video's description claims the weapon is a YakB-12.7 rotary machine gun originally developed for the Mil Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter. Another soldier ducks, left, just in time!