January 19, 2025
As of today, based on available photos and videos, Ukraine’s Defense Forces have destroyed at least 10 russian BTR-50 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).
New photos of BTR-50s used by russian occupying forces have surfaced online. These include the BTR-50PK combat vehicle equipped with a BPU-1 turret and the command variant BTR-50PU, which the russians likely use as a standard armored personnel carrier.
The photos were published by the social-lifestyle magazine Vodogray.
Notably, these armored vehicles have been modified with anti-drone protection in the form of cage armor. According to the sources of these images, the modifications were carried out either late last year or early this year. It is most likely that the russians are deploying these vehicles in the Donetsk region.
The first reports of russia’s intent to use outdated Soviet-era BTR-50s on the battlefield surfaced nearly two years ago, in February 2023. At that time, initial images emerged showing the enemy transporting these armored personnel carriers to the front. The deployment of these obsolete vehicles sparked discussions about what else russia might bring out of its reserves.
In the spring of 2023, these vehicles reappeared in a video showing that russian forces had armed a BTR-50 with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns.
In November 2023, Ukraine’s Defense Forces destroyed their first russian BTR-50. The 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade shared footage from the Avdiivka sector, showing destroyed russian armored vehicles, including a BTR-50.
A horrible thought if the US Army had to dig out such old junk for combat duty on a brutal frontline. But, I think the average reader has gotten used to seeing such reports. This is not the only ancient vehicle that the cockroach army is forced to use, and although it’s still better than buggies, scooters, and bicycles, it still shows an army that’s in dire straights.
Army? Thats a stretch! Id put a company of my local weekend warrior army reserves up against them tactally w/o resevation.
A horde? 😁