Mk44 Bushmaster II in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Direct proof of use

The Mk44 Bushmaster II is documented in Ukrainian service during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War through two host systems. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence states that the Defence Forces of Ukraine operate Rosomak combat variants with the Hitfist-30P turret, and the same official account identifies the turret's main weapon as the American 30 mm ATK Mk 44 Bushmaster II automatic cannon.

A separate UK-supplied air-defense channel is documented through Terrahawk Paladin. GOV.UK announced on 11 October 2023 that MSI-DS Terrahawk Paladin would be provided to Ukraine as part of an International Fund for Ukraine air-defense package. Later Ukrainian and defense reporting identified the system in Ukrainian Air Force service and described its primary gun as the 30 mm Mark 44 or Mk44 Bushmaster II.

Sources: Ukraine MOD Rosomak APC Overview, UK MOD Ukraine Support Package Terrahawk Paladin, Ukrainska Pravda Ukraine Deploys Terrahawk Paladin, Army Recognition Ukraine Deploys Terrahawk Paladin

Timeline

The public sequence begins with Poland's April 2023 Rosomak package for Ukraine. Poland's Prime Minister's Office announced that 100 Rosomak armored vehicles would be sold to Ukraine, and the Office of the President of Ukraine described a Polish-Ukrainian letter of intent covering Rosomak armored personnel carriers for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In October 2023, the UK announced Terrahawk Paladin for Ukraine's air-defense package. By November 2025, Ukrainian reporting said Ukraine's 156th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment had deployed UK-supplied Terrahawk Paladin systems. In May 2026, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence publicly described Rosomak combat variants in Ukrainian service and named the Mk 44 Bushmaster II cannon in the Hitfist-30P armament fit.

Sources: Poland Rosomak Sale Announcement, President of Ukraine Rosomak Letter of Intent, UK MOD Ukraine Support Package Terrahawk Paladin, Ukrainska Pravda Ukraine Deploys Terrahawk Paladin, Ukraine MOD Rosomak APC Overview

Battlefield role

In the Rosomak channel, the Mk44 appears as a vehicle-mounted automatic cannon for Ukrainian wheeled combat vehicles. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence describes the Rosomak as adaptable for missions from medical evacuation to fire support and says the widely used Hitfist-30P variant combines the Mk 44 Bushmaster II, a coaxial machine gun, thermal sights, and a digital fire-control system.

In the Terrahawk channel, the Mk44 appears as a short-range air-defense and counter-UAS gun. The UK announcement framed Terrahawk Paladin as a system for tracking and destroying drones and protecting critical national infrastructure, while later reports on Ukrainian service tied the Mk44-equipped system to low-altitude air defense and protection of facilities or other air-defense assets.

The sources support Ukrainian operation, transfer, and host-system fielding of Mk44-equipped systems. They do not provide a complete inventory of Mk44 guns in Ukraine or a verified incident-by-incident firing log for the cannon itself.

Sources: Ukraine MOD Rosomak APC Overview, UK MOD Ukraine Support Package Terrahawk Paladin, United24 Terrahawk Enters Service, Army Recognition Ukraine Deploys Terrahawk Paladin