Ukraine adopts "Malyuk" bullpup rifle ?
Ukroboronprom (Ukrainian defense industry organization) made an announcement about Malyuk bullpup rifle successfully passing government tests. They’ve already started manufacturing it.
It is a bit confusing because they don’t literally state that the gun is adopted. However, passing all government tests and trials and being put into large-scale production usually means that. Malyuk is a heavily modified AK-74 converted into a bullpup configuration. Right now “Krasyliv Aggregate Plant” factory upon order of another Ukrainian company called “Interproinvest” started manufacturing the rifle.
Ukroboronprom has also released a video on their YouTube channel demonstrating the rifle:
Theoretically, it is possible that Ukraine manufactures it to offer for export only. However, in such cases, there is usually no need of extensive government tests, because if other countries decide to buy the gun, they’ll arrange their own tests. As a rule, government tests result in either adoption or canceling of any particular firearm. Unfortunately, nobody from Ukroboronprom answered to my messages for clarification of their announcement.
Historical note
Ukraine developed its first AK-based bullpup rifle in 2003, which was called Vepr. Later they were continuously revising and upgrading the rifle and eventually it evolved into Malyuk. Ukraine showed Malyuk last year and since then it appeared in many arms fairs. Reportedly, it was adopted in small numbers by Ukrainian special forces and even saw limited use in the current war in Ukraine.
If you want to learn more about the Malyuk rifle click here and here.
Managing Editor Being a lifelong firearms enthusiast, Hrachya always enjoys studying the history and design of guns and ammunition. Should you need to contact him, feel free to shoot him a message at Hrachya@TheFirearmBlog.com
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Is Ukraine independent or did they get taken over by Putin's Neo Soviet Union completely? I recall them being invaded.
Bullpup-ized AK. Again. With all the known problems that it'd entail. It's been done by Russians, Americans and everyone else that could be bothered. And results were always same: poor balance and poor ergonomics which combined to make the weapon less precise in burst fire. Russian military tried it back in the days of OC-14 and SpetsNaz gave a judgement that resoundingly slammed the door shut on adoption of AKs that were turned into Bullpup as opposed to a clean-sheet bullpup like A-91M/ADS