The Kyiv car mechanics converting captured Russian weapons for Ukraine’s troops • FRANCE 24

At an auto repair shop in Kyiv, mechanics used to working on car engines are instead applying their skills to heavy weaponry captured from Russian armoured vehicles. They are converting them into handheld weapons that can be used by Ukrainian troops.
#Kyiv #weapons

[elizabethdjokovic]

The ingenuity of the Ukrainians in dealing with every detail of defence and attack during this invasion of their country is indeed remarkable. Great leadership shows what is possible.

[Eero_V]

This is brilliant, exactly what the Finns did with soviet weapons during WW2!

[joewindsor]

25 years wrenching as a mechanic I’d like to think I’d be doing this very same thing if put in the same predicament. More power to them!!

[momofschnauzers]

Boy these are some tough people. Despite all that has transpired and continues to do so, the people of Ukraine are standing their ground with everything they have. In my heart of hearts, I hope that their country is restored and that they can live in peace.

[iwantyourcookiesnow]

Imagine sending your car to the mechanic and it comes back with a mounted machine gun welded onto it.

[kuhen]

This doesn't surprise me one bit, I know how handy the Ukrainians are. I had a problem with my washing machine. My wife is Ukrainian. She opened up the entire washing machine and found the faulty part. Ordered it from online and got it fixed. I didn't even know she did it. Ukrainians are the best!

[Timespartan]

For this interested, this is a PKT to PKM conversion, and was actually quite common in the states among hobbyists. The trickiest part is converting the electrically fired solenoid trigger, into a physical trigger that you can press with your finger.

[justdoingitjim]

In my Marine Corps "Improvised Weapons" class we were taught how to use things discarded by the enemy to make weapons to kill them. Some were used as booby traps, some were electrically activated mines and others sent projectiles at the enemy. We learned a lot from the Filipinos of WWII and the Viet Cong in Viet Nam. They were experts at guerilla fighting!

[rtqii]

This is very real. The first thing Ukrainians are doing with knocked out armor is dismounting the machine guns. I have seen videos of them removing the mount hardware on the side of the road. Ukrainians are mounting guns on the back of street vehicles to enable them to partake in hit and run attacks. The destroyed or knocked out armor is also extremely valuable, especially if the main gun works. They use military recovery vehicles and cranes to move and stack armor into their infantry defense fortifications. If the main gun works the vehicle is filled with sandbags and packed with sandbags on the outside, leaving access for the gun to be operated,

[micahhurst]

As a Machinist I can appreciate what these guys are engineering in a Automotive shop.
Godspeed to you all!

[jstone]

You have to admire the ingenuity and determination of the Ukraine people.
They are fighting the good fight.
Bless them all.

[steviep]

Absolutely brilliant, though now nearly a pensioner, as a veteran Army tank mechanic this is the sort of thing I would be proud to contribute to if I was in their situation. All our prayers are with you for your success defeating these Russian war criminals.

[ginogina]

Smart, trained, skillfull, motivated. Outstanding.

[mikethespike]

I know from my late Ukrainian dad just how skilled Ukrainians are at making useful stuff out of things others have thrown away. So this doesn't surprise me in the least.

[marvwatkins]

Very smart, skilled, capable, and quickly innovative, these Ukrainians.

[warwickben]

For those that don’t know . The belt fed shown is a pkt. It’s a coaxial mounted version of the pkm. It doesn’t have sights or a normal trigger. In the tank it’s fired by a electronic solenoid, but they have a back up tab that can be used to fire if the tank loses power etc.
they are adding a pkm stock/grip that is tripping the the pkt sear. Normally the grip / trigger is under the gun not behind.

Similar mods have been done to the pkt parts kits in America since they are more common then a pkm parts kit . There’s really only 4 main different parts . Barrel, top feed cover trigger group and rear trunion/stock


Since ww1 people have been adapting tank mounted machine guns from captured tanks for soliders to use.
Some models the machine guns are design to be taken out of the tank so the crew can use them if they need to ditch the tank.

[ens]

Engineers doing what they are especially good at, solving problems and developing from what they have. Godspeed to the Ukrainians!

[thesteveandianproject]

The fact that they can makes me proud. The fact that they have to breaks my heart. Freedom for the Ukraine.

[robertjohnson]

I love how amazing the Ukrainian people are, it makes my soul sad for everyone that has to fight this monster!!! For the elderly, women and men and children you are all heroes in my eyes .

[maryvalentine]

This guy! Man oh man, what a gunsmith! I am in awe of the Ukrainian people.