2014 Russia-Ukraine War

MT-LB with 25 mm 2M-3 naval gun in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Russian forces fielded improvised MT-LB-family vehicles fitted with twin 25 mm 2M-3 or 2M-3M naval gun mounts during the full-scale phase of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, with open-source loss records and specialist reporting documenting examples in Ukraine.

Weapon profileMT-LB with 25 mm 2M-3 naval gun
SideRussiaRoleAir DefenseFire Support
MT-LB with 25 mm 2M-3 naval gun, Improvised tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, Air Defense - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: Commons 2M-3M Togliatti Image

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Russian MT-LB-family vehicles with 25 mm 2M-3 naval guns were documented as destroyed in the invasion of Ukraine.

Sources: Oryx Russian Equipment Losses In Ukraine

A Russian MT-LB was reported fitted with a 2M-3 ship anti-aircraft gun in March 2023.

Sources: Defense Express Russian MT-LB 2M-3 Installation

At least two MT-LB/2M-3 conversions were reported moving after the first public photo.

Sources: Defense Express MT-LB 2M-3 Manufacturing

A Ukraine sighting was attributed to Russian armed forces and probably to the 39th infantry brigade's 2nd motorized rifle battalion.

Sources: Army Recognition MT-LB 2M-3 In Ukraine

A later 2M-3M twin-mount example was attributed to Russian 155th Guards Brigade marines.

Sources: The Armourers Bench MT-LB Adaptations

Timeline

MT-LB with 25 mm 2M-3 naval gun In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. Russian MT-LB/2M-3 conversion reported

    Defense Express reported a Russian MT-LB armored vehicle fitted with a 2M-3 ship anti-aircraft gun and described the mount as a twin 25 mm naval weapon.

    Sources: Defense Express Russian MT-LB 2M-3 Installation

  2. At least two vehicles reported moving

    Defense Express reported that at least two MT-LBs with 2M-3 anti-aircraft guns had been recorded moving in Russia.

    Sources: Defense Express MT-LB 2M-3 Manufacturing

  3. Ukraine sighting attributed to Russian forces

    Army Recognition described an MT-LB fitted with a 2M-3 twin 25 mm naval turret in Ukraine and attributed it to Russian armed forces.

    Sources: Army Recognition MT-LB 2M-3 In Ukraine

  4. 155th Guards Brigade example noted

    The Armourers Bench updated its MT-LB adaptation coverage with an example of Russian 155th Guards Brigade marines operating an MT-LB with a 2M-3M twin mount.

    Sources: The Armourers Bench MT-LB Adaptations

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The clearest conflict-use evidence is open-source loss documentation. Oryx lists destroyed Russian MT-LB-family vehicles fitted with 25 mm 2M-3 naval guns in its photo- and video-backed Russian equipment-loss record for the invasion of Ukraine, including one MT-LB and one MT-LBVM(K) variant.

Independent defense reporting ties the same type of hybrid vehicle to Russian service in Ukraine. Defense Express reported in March 2023 that Russian forces had installed a 2M-3 ship anti-aircraft gun on an MT-LB armored vehicle, and Army Recognition later described an MT-LB in Ukraine fitted with a 2M-3 twin 25 mm naval turret as part of the Russian armed forces.

Sources: Oryx Russian Equipment Losses In Ukraine, Defense Express Russian MT-LB 2M-3 Installation, Army Recognition MT-LB 2M-3 In Ukraine

Dated appearances

The public record begins with March 2023 reporting on a Russian MT-LB conversion photographed at a repair-base setting. A follow-up Defense Express article the next day reported movement of at least two MT-LBs with 2M-3 anti-aircraft guns installed, treating the appearance as more than a single experimental vehicle.

By March 2024, Army Recognition described a Ukraine sighting of an MT-LB with a 2M-3 twin 25 mm naval gun turret and attributed the vehicle to Russian forces, probably linked to the 2nd motorized rifle battalion of the 39th infantry brigade. In July 2024, The Armourers Bench added a separate note that Russian marines of the 155th Guards Brigade operated an MT-LB with a 2M-3M twin mount.

Sources: Defense Express Russian MT-LB 2M-3 Installation, Defense Express MT-LB 2M-3 Manufacturing, Army Recognition MT-LB 2M-3 In Ukraine, The Armourers Bench MT-LB Adaptations

Battlefield role

The conversion combined a lightly armored MT-LB tracked carrier with a Soviet naval twin 25 mm mount. Sources describe the gun as an anti-aircraft weapon, but the documented Ukrainian-war examples are best supported as improvised short-range air-defense and fire-support vehicles rather than standardized factory systems.

Army Recognition assessed the likely battlefield purpose as high-volume suppression rather than precise fire, while the parent loss and sighting records show the vehicle in Russian service. The available sources support fielding and losses in the conflict, but they do not provide a complete unit inventory or a verified count of every conversion built.

Sources: Army Recognition MT-LB 2M-3 In Ukraine, Oryx Russian Equipment Losses In Ukraine, Defense Express MT-LB 2M-3 Manufacturing

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Sources