Direct proof of use
The M93A3 Heron, often reported under the Haron spelling, appeared in Ukrainian service during the Russia-Ukraine war in 2025. Defense Express reported that the Croatian 70 mm multiple rocket launcher had been spotted in use in Ukraine after an open-source researcher identified the system from Russian footage of a strike on the launcher; the same article said later video from the Ukrainian volunteer media outlet Vodogray gave a clearer view of the launcher with a Ukrainian Defense Forces unit.
UNITED24 Media separately reported that Ukrainian forces had begun operating the M93A3 Haron and described the same identification chain: initial recognition from Russian video footage, followed by Vodohrai unit video confirming deployment. Defence24 later reported that the Ukrainian army had received the M93A3 Heron and linked public knowledge of the delivery to a Russian drone attack shortly before the first Ukrainian footage appeared.
Sources: Defense Express M93A3 Haron Ukraine, UNITED24 M93A3 Haron Ukraine, Defence24 M93A3 Ukraine
Documented role
The documented Ukrainian role was light rocket-artillery fire support. Defence24 described the transferred launcher as a system for supporting Ukrainian soldiers with indirect fire, while Defense Express identified the launcher firing unguided high-explosive fragmentation NE70 TF M95 rockets and discussed its compact area-fire role in the positional phase of the war.
Public sources do not establish how many launchers reached Ukraine. Defense Express treated Croatian Army stocks as the likely source, UNITED24 Media said the transfer path remained unclear, and Defence24 stated that the total number sent from Zagreb to Kyiv was not known.
Sources: Defense Express M93A3 Haron Ukraine, UNITED24 M93A3 Haron Ukraine, Defence24 M93A3 Ukraine
System context
The Heron is a lightweight towed launcher rather than a heavy battlefield rocket system. The Croatian Defence Industry catalog presents the HERON B/LVLR 70 M93A3 as an all-weather direct- or indirect-fire area-support launcher with forty 70 mm rockets, a fire remote controller, and a UN-2 sighting device.
In Ukrainian reporting, the system was discussed as a standardized Croatian alternative to improvised small-caliber rocket platforms. Its reported strengths in the conflict were compactness, concealment, and remote firing, while the same reports emphasized short range, light rocket payload, dependence on suitable Croatian ammunition, and public uncertainty over the delivery package.
Sources: Croatian Defence Industry 2013 Catalog, Defense Express M93A3 Haron Ukraine, UNITED24 M93A3 Haron Ukraine, Defence24 M93A3 Ukraine
