Direct proof of use
The GAZ-3937/GAZ-39371 Vodnik appears in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War record through captured-equipment documentation from the full-scale invasion. Oryx's Russian equipment-loss list, which includes only losses with photo or video evidence available to the project, lists two Russian GAZ-39371 Vodnik vehicles as captured.
Army Recognition reported on March 30, 2023 that Ukrainian soldiers had captured a rare Russian GAZ-3937 Vodnik, repainted it in Ukrainian pixel camouflage, and were using it to fight Russian troops. The article attributed the photographs to The Dead District and described the vehicle as captured Russian equipment.
Sources: Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Army Recognition Captured Vodnik
Timeline
Oryx's list opened with the February 24, 2022 full-scale invasion and has continued to track visually documented Russian losses; within that list, the GAZ-39371 Vodnik appears under infantry mobility vehicles with two captured examples.
On March 30, 2023, Army Recognition published a Ukraine-war report describing a captured GAZ-3937 Vodnik in Ukrainian pixel camouflage and said it was being used by Ukrainian soldiers against Russian troops.
Sources: Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Army Recognition Captured Vodnik
Narrative
The documented wartime role is narrow: rare protected mobility equipment first recorded as Russian materiel and then as captured equipment. Oryx supports the Russian-side loss/capture context, while Army Recognition supports subsequent Ukrainian use of at least one captured vehicle.
The available public sources do not establish a large Vodnik fleet in Ukraine, a specific Russian unit, or a detailed combat action involving the type. They do support cataloging the Vodnik as a rare Russian armored mobility vehicle that entered the Ukraine-war record through battlefield capture and reuse.
Sources: Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Army Recognition Captured Vodnik
