A Russian military trainee narrowly avoided serious injury after accidentally firing a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at his own feet during a training exercise. The incident, captured on video and shared on a Ukrainian Telegram channel, shows the recruit fumbling with the weapon.
In the footage, the trainee is seen in an open field attempting to shoulder the RPG launcher. The weapon appears to slide forward and discharge while still in his grasp, with the projectile hitting the ground mere inches from him. Fortunately, the rocket did not detonate, instead burrowing into the earth and kicking up dust and debris.
Both the trainee and the person filming the session are seen fleeing the area in apparent fear of the unexploded ordnance. A voice from off-camera can be heard berating the trainee in Russian. The recruit, appearing embarrassed and shaken, is seen readjusting his helmet.
The video does not specify when or where the incident occurred. The notes suggest that failures by new Russian recruits have become more common since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, citing another recent video where a soldier lost control of a machine gun turret.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Russia's monthly troop losses have reportedly exceeded its recruitment rate.