Russia Uses AK-306 Warship Gun to Fortify Ground Bunkers in Ukraine

Russia has begun installing its AK-306 naval guns as stationary ground-based firing positions in occupied areas of southern Ukraine, according to images shared by open-source intelligence accounts on social media.

The AK-306 is a 30mm six-barreled automatic naval gun typically mounted on small- and medium-sized vessels of the Russian Navy. It is a lighter version of the AK-630 system and is primarily used for close-range air defense.

Originally designed to target low-flying aircraft and small surface thre

ats, the system has now been adapted for static use on land—marking a further shift in Russia’s attempts to repurpose naval assets for ground warfare.

The AK-306 features a rate of fire up to 1,000 rounds per minute and is operated remotely using an external control unit. On warships, it is paired with the “Lazur” fire control system and an electro-optical sighting unit.

For land-based deployment, reports suggest that the gun is being operated using a similar configuration, likely retaining the use of the OPU-1 optical targeting system.

This weapon system is standard on a number of Russian naval platforms, including Project 1400M “Grif” patrol boats and Project 1208 “Sungari” river gunboats. It has also been used on various auxiliary vessels for close-in defense.

Unlike its heavier naval counterparts, the AK-306 lacks armor-piercing ammunition and instead fires high-explosive incendiary (OF-84) and fragmentation-tracer (OR-84) rounds, indicating a focus on defending against aerial and lightly-armored threats.

Photos published in June 2025 show the AK-306 mounted on a prepared static position, allegedly in rear areas of occupied Kherson Oblast. Analysts note that its survival in open deployment suggests it is located far from the front line. Similar weapons transported on Russian military trucks have previously been spotted in Crimea throughout the past year.

The adaptation of naval systems for land-based roles reflects a broader trend in Russian military logistics, as the war in Ukraine strains conventional hardware supplies and compels creative use of legacy systems.

Earlier, Ukrainian drones destroyed Russia’s rare “Zaslon” radar system—originally designed for warships but mounted on wheels for land use—in the first confirmed strike of its kind. The high-value target, capable of tracking up to 200 threats and supporting air defense operations, was eliminated by Ukraine’s 413th Battalion of Unmanned Systems on May 5.

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