Donetsk, Feb 17 – DAN. Ukrainian command has supplied its units deployed to the Novotroitskoye area outside Donetsk with Soviet-era Degtyarev-Shpagin machine guns, the DPR People's Militia said.
"We have recorded supplies of 10 Degtyarev-Shpagin machine guns of 1938 to the positions of the 53rd Ukrainian brigade. The weapons were stored in a Soledar depot. The condition of the supplied weapons outraged Ukrainian soldiers. The machine guns are covered with rust, and moveable elements are jammed," the report reads.
The new weapons can only be used to set up mock-ups of positions.
The DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun with an impressive service history. It was used in dozens of wars including the WWII, Vietnam war, Arab-Israel conflict and almost all the other wars in the Middle East. It is currently in service in the Ukrainian 79th assault brigade. *ot