2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Tundzha in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

The Bulgarian Tundzha 120 mm self-propelled mortar was publicly documented in Ukrainian service in February 2025, when defense reporting described footage of Ukrainian mortar crews operating the MT-LB-based system against Russian forces.

Weapon profileTundzha
SideUkraineRoleFire SupportMobility & Logistics
Tundzha, 120 mm self-propelled mortar carrier, Artillery - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: Wikimedia Commons B1-10 Tundzha image

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Ukrainian mortar crews were publicly reported operating a Bulgarian Tundzha self-propelled mortar in Ukraine in February 2025.

Sources: Defense Express Tundzha in Ukraine

Ukrainian forces were reported to have received an unknown number of Tundzha 120 mm self-propelled mortars and used them on the front line against Russian forces.

Sources: Army Recognition Tundzha Ukraine report

A Bulgarian report described video of a mortar shot from an MT-LB-based vehicle identified as Tundzha in Armed Forces of Ukraine service.

Sources: Fakti Tundzha Ukraine video report

Open reporting did not publicly establish the exact transfer route or number of Tundzha vehicles in Ukraine.

Sources: Defense Express Tundzha in Ukraine, Army Recognition Tundzha Ukraine report

Timeline

Tundzha In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. Front-line use reported

    Army Recognition cited NMFTE reporting that Ukrainian forces had received an unknown number of Tundzha 120 mm self-propelled mortars and had already used them on the front line against Russian forces.

    Sources: Army Recognition Tundzha Ukraine report

  2. First public Ukrainian-service footage summarized

    Defense Express reported footage of Ukrainian mortar crews operating the Bulgarian Tundzha in Ukraine, calling it the first confirmed public appearance of the system there.

    Sources: Defense Express Tundzha in Ukraine

  3. Bulgarian outlet reports the same video

    Fakti.bg reported that a video showed a shot from a mortar on an MT-LB-based vehicle identified as a Bulgarian Tundzha in Armed Forces of Ukraine service.

    Sources: Fakti Tundzha Ukraine video report

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

Defense Express reported on 27 February 2025 that footage had appeared showing Ukrainian mortar crews operating a Bulgarian 120 mm Tundzha self-propelled mortar in Ukraine. The report described it as the first confirmed public appearance of the system in Ukraine and noted that no earlier public delivery report had identified a transfer.

Army Recognition published a separate account the same day, citing a 25 February 2025 NMFTE report that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had received an unknown number of Tundzha 120 mm self-propelled mortars and had already used them on the front line against Russian forces. Bulgarian outlet Fakti.bg also reported on 27 February that a video showed a mortar shot from an MT-LB-based vehicle identified as Tundzha in Ukrainian service.

Sources: Defense Express Tundzha in Ukraine, Army Recognition Tundzha Ukraine report, Fakti Tundzha Ukraine video report

Timeline

The public sourcing places the documented Ukrainian-service appearance in late February 2025. Army Recognition traced the report to a 25 February NMFTE post, while Defense Express and Fakti.bg published broader summaries on 27 February.

The same reporting separates earlier procurement interest from wartime use. Defense Express wrote that Ukraine had planned to purchase Tundzha mortars from Bulgaria before the full-scale invasion but that the planned acquisition did not materialize; by February 2025, the source path and number of vehicles in Ukraine were still publicly unclear.

Sources: Defense Express Tundzha in Ukraine, Army Recognition Tundzha Ukraine report, Fakti Tundzha Ukraine video report

Role in Ukrainian service

In the sourced conflict record, Tundzha appears as a Ukrainian tracked 120 mm mortar carrier used for front-line indirect fire. The vehicle combines an MT-LB chassis with an internally carried mortar that can fire through roof hatches, giving the crew armored mobility and a self-propelled firing position rather than a purely towed mortar emplacement.

The reports do not establish a precise Ukrainian unit, donor country, transfer route, or fleet size. Defense Express specifically stated that it was unknown whether the vehicles were purchased or received as military aid, and Army Recognition described the number as unknown while suggesting possible Bulgarian origin.

Sources: Defense Express Tundzha in Ukraine, Army Recognition Tundzha Ukraine report

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Sources