Recently, unique footage has emerged showcasing the work of Ukrainian mortarmen operating the Bulgarian self-propelled 120-mm mortar "Tundja".
The uniqueness of this footage lies in the fact that it marks the first appearance of the "Tundja" in Ukraine, and previously, there had been no reports of its transfer.
Another interesting detail is that several years before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine had planned to order these mortars from Bulgaria. Funds had even been allocated for the purchase, but something went awry, and this enhancement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not occur, resulting in the funds being returned to the budget.
Currently, it is unclear whether the "Tundja" was purchased or received as part of some military aid package for Ukraine, as well as how many units were obtained. The exact number of "Tundja" self-propelled mortars in Bulgaria is unknown, but some sources mention approximately 80 units of such mortars.
The "Tundja" is armed with an M-120 type mortar of 120 mm caliber, which provides a firing range of up to 7 km, and as a self-defense weapon, it is equipped with the standard PKT machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber for the MT-LB. The vehicle's ammunition load consists of 60 mortar shells and 2000 rounds for the PKT.
The self-propelled mortar "Tundja" was developed in the 1960s and 70s in the USSR based on the MT-LB at the Central Research Institute "Burevisnik". Initially intended for airborne troops in the Soviet army, the project was ultimately sidelined due to the emergence of the self-propelled artillery-mortar system 2S9 "Nona-S" featuring a 120-mm gun 2A51.
Later, the "Tundja" began to be produced under license in Bulgaria, from where it was initially supplied to some countries of the Warsaw Pact and later to other countries around the world, including Syria.