2014 Russia-Ukraine War

KBA-48M 82 mm mortar in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Ukrainian KBA-48M1 82 mm mortars were supplied to Ukraine's Defense Forces during the full-scale phase of the war, including a documented 2024 delivery to the 21st Mechanized Brigade for front-line use.

Weapon profileKBA-48M 82 mm mortar
SideUkraineRoleFire Support
KBA-48M 82 mm mortar, 82 mm portable mortar, Artillery - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: Sea Breeze 19: Mortars and Night Range

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Come Back Alive transferred 250 KBA-48M1 mortars to Ukraine's Defense Forces during the full-scale phase of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Sources: Front Edge Weapons

Ukraine's 21st Mechanized Brigade received KBA-48M1 mortars from Come Back Alive, with reported front-line operation in 2024.

Sources: KBA-48M1 Mortars to 21st Mechanized Brigade

The KBA-48M1/KBA-48M is an 82 mm portable mortar family with published 4,000 m range and light mortar fire-support characteristics.

Sources: 82 mm KBA-48M1 mortar, KBA-48M

Timeline

KBA-48M 82 mm mortar In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. Come Back Alive lists KBA-48M1 mortars among wartime transfers

    Come Back Alive's Front Edge Weapons project lists 250 KBA-48M1 mortars among weapons transferred to Ukraine's Defense Forces after the start of the full-scale invasion.

    Sources: Front Edge Weapons

  2. KBA-48M1 mortars delivered to the 21st Mechanized Brigade

    Militarnyi reported that Come Back Alive-delivered KBA-48M1 mortars had reached units of Ukraine's 21st Mechanized Brigade and were already operating on the front line.

    Sources: KBA-48M1 Mortars to 21st Mechanized Brigade

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The KBA-48M1 appears in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War record through Ukrainian transfer and field-use reporting. Come Back Alive's Front Edge Weapons project lists 250 KBA-48M1 mortars among weapons transferred to Ukraine's Defense Forces after the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

A later Militarnyi report tied the same mortar type to a named Ukrainian unit: the 21st Mechanized Brigade received Ukrainian-made 82 mm KBA-48M1 mortars from Come Back Alive, and the report said the mortars were already operating on the front line against Russian forces.

Sources: Front Edge Weapons, KBA-48M1 Mortars to 21st Mechanized Brigade

Timeline

The public record first supports conflict use as a post-February 2022 transfer rather than as a pre-invasion combat deployment. Come Back Alive presents the KBA-48M1 as part of its wartime infantry-weapons procurement for the Ukrainian military, while Militarnyi provides a dated 2024 unit-level example of delivery and front-line operation.

The August 2024 brigade delivery is the clearest public milestone found for a specific Ukrainian formation using KBA-48M1 mortars in the conflict.

Sources: Front Edge Weapons, KBA-48M1 Mortars to 21st Mechanized Brigade

Battlefield role

The KBA-48M1's documented role in Ukrainian service is light mortar fire support. Ukrainian Military Pages describes the 82 mm mortar as intended for engaging personnel and equipment in cover or trenches and for damaging field fortifications, while SpetsTechnoExport lists a 48.6 kg firing-position weight, 82 mm caliber, and 4,000 m firing range for the KBA-48M.

Those characteristics match the way the conflict-use sources place it: a portable mortar supplied to Ukrainian ground units for front-line infantry and brigade-level fire support, not a long-range strike or strategic system.

Sources: 82 mm KBA-48M1 mortar, KBA-48M, Front Edge Weapons, KBA-48M1 Mortars to 21st Mechanized Brigade

Related Weapons by Role

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Sources