The Russians installed ZU-23-2 on the Japanese Toyota HMV military SUV

The Russians have turned a Japanese demilitarized Toyota HMV SUV into a mobile firing platform with a ZU-23-2.

The Russian Ministry of Defense published the video of the equipment.

The video shows that the firing platform includes a portable electronic warfare device in addition to the 23-mm anti-aircraft gun.

So, obviously, the platform is primarily designed to counter drones. However, the Russian Ministry of Defense also writes about the use of the system against Ukrainian infantry.

This platform is reportedly being used by Russian occupation forces near the village of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region.

Russian troops have been using former Japanese military off-road vehicles almost since the beginning of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.

Such vehicles are most often spotted in units based in the far east of Russia, where they are common on the civilian market.

Until 2022, Toyota HMVs entered the Russian civilian market in large numbers after being demilitarized and sold by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

Then, from civilian owners, these cars were transferred to the Russian invasion forces.

As a reminder, mobile groups are being created within several Russian combined arms armies in the Aerospace and Air Defense Forces to combat Ukrainian drones.

The firing groups are to be armed with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns on truck chassis, as well as pickup trucks with heavy machine guns.

The new units are also to include electronic warfare equipment and smoke screening vehicles.