2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Sivalka VM-8 in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Ukrainian Support Forces and CBRN-protection units have used Sivalka VM-8 thermobaric rocket launchers for short-range fire support against Russian personnel, shelters, military equipment, and fortified positions.

Weapon profileSivalka VM-8
SideUkraineRoleFire SupportArea DenialPsychological Impact
Sivalka VM-8, Light vehicle-mounted multiple rocket launcher, Artillery - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: Defense Express Sivalka VM8 analysis

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Ukraine used Sivalka VM-8 systems in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Sources: ArmyInform Kursk Sivalka Combat Work, ArmyInform Rare Flamethrower Report, ArmyInform Support Forces Sivalka Report

Reported Ukrainian users include Support Forces CBRN-protection troops and the 704th Separate CBRN Protection Brigade.

Sources: ArmyInform Support Forces Sivalka Report, ArmyInform Lyman Sivalka Report, ArmyInform 704th Brigade Shelters Report, Defense Express Sivalka VM8 Analysis

Documented uses include thermobaric fire against personnel, military equipment, strongpoints, shelters, and fortified positions.

Sources: ArmyInform Kursk Sivalka Combat Work, ArmyInform Support Forces Sivalka Report, ArmyInform 704th Brigade Shelters Report

Public technical descriptions identify the system as a light vehicle-mounted launcher for 80 mm S-8 family rockets.

Sources: Defence Blog Light Rocket Launcher, Defense Express Sivalka VM8 Analysis, ArmyInform Rare Flamethrower Report

Timeline

Sivalka VM-8 In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. Improvised launcher publicly reported

    Defence Blog reported that Ukrainian engineers had developed the 16-tube Sivalka VM-8 ground launcher for 80 mm S-8 rockets on light vehicle chassis.

    Sources: Defence Blog Light Rocket Launcher

  2. Combat work reported on the Kursk axis

    ArmyInform reported Sivalka-VM8 fire by a Ukrainian CBRN-protection unit operating with the 80th Air Assault Brigade on the Kursk axis.

    Sources: ArmyInform Kursk Sivalka Combat Work

  3. Support Forces thermobaric fire reported

    ArmyInform reported General Staff footage of Support Forces CBRN-protection Sivalka-VM8 systems firing special thermobaric rounds.

    Sources: ArmyInform Rare Flamethrower Report

  4. 704th Brigade shown on the Lyman axis

    ArmyInform reported the 704th Separate CBRN Protection Brigade demonstrating Sivalka-VM8 use with thermobaric rockets on the Lyman axis.

    Sources: ArmyInform Lyman Sivalka Report

  5. 704th Brigade combat work reported again

    ArmyInform reported 704th Brigade flamethrower troops showing Sivalka VM-8 combat work against personnel, shelters, and fortified positions.

    Sources: ArmyInform 704th Brigade Shelters Report

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

Ukrainian military media has documented Sivalka VM-8 use in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War through reports of Support Forces and CBRN-protection troops firing the system in combat. In August 2024, ArmyInform reported that an RCB-protection unit operating with Ukraine's 80th Air Assault Brigade on the Kursk axis used Sivalka-VM8 launchers with thermobaric S-8 rockets against Russian personnel and military equipment.

Later reports showed the system in repeated Ukrainian service. ArmyInform attributed November 2024 footage to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and described Sivalka-VM8 systems from Support Forces CBRN-protection units firing special thermobaric rounds. In February 2025, the same outlet cited Support Forces Command footage and described Sivalka-VM8 as a mobile fire system for tactical-level CBRN-protection troops.

Sources: ArmyInform Kursk Sivalka Combat Work, ArmyInform Rare Flamethrower Report, ArmyInform Support Forces Sivalka Report

Timeline

The public record shows a progression from development and fielding context to named combat appearances. Defence Blog reported in December 2022 that Ukrainian engineers had developed the improvised Sivalka VM-8 launcher around 80 mm S-8 rockets and light vehicle chassis. Defense Express later wrote that public reports of Sivalka VM8 mobile systems with S-8 rockets dated to spring 2023 and that the 704th Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had the system in service.

The clearest dated combat reports begin in 2024 and continue into 2025. ArmyInform's August 2024 report places the system on the Kursk axis; its June 2025 report identifies the 704th Separate CBRN Protection Brigade using the Ukrainian-made system on the Lyman axis; and its October 2025 report again identifies 704th Brigade flamethrower troops showing Sivalka VM-8 combat work against enemy personnel, shelters, and fortified positions.

Sources: Defence Blog Light Rocket Launcher, Defense Express Sivalka VM8 Analysis, ArmyInform Kursk Sivalka Combat Work, ArmyInform Lyman Sivalka Report, ArmyInform 704th Brigade Shelters Report

Battlefield role

In Ukrainian reporting, Sivalka VM-8 appears as a short-range thermobaric fire-support system rather than a general-purpose multiple rocket launcher. The reported users are Support Forces CBRN-protection or flamethrower troops, including the 704th Separate CBRN Protection Brigade. Reported target sets include Russian personnel, military equipment, defensive strongpoints, shelters, and fortified positions.

The system's role is tied to mobility and brief fire missions. Defence Blog described the VM-8 as a 16-tube launcher for 80 mm S-8 rockets mounted on light wheeled vehicles, while Defense Express described a compact Ford Ranger-based configuration for thermobaric 80 mm S-8TR rockets, a rapid deploy-fire-displace cycle, and a reported 8-10 km range. ArmyInform's November 2024 report gave a more conservative open-source range figure of about 5 km and described the launcher as firing 12 to 16 unguided aircraft rockets.

Sources: Defence Blog Light Rocket Launcher, Defense Express Sivalka VM8 Analysis, ArmyInform Rare Flamethrower Report, ArmyInform Lyman Sivalka Report, ArmyInform 704th Brigade Shelters Report

Related Weapons by Role

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Sources