Russo-Ukrainian War: The BMP-2M "Berezhok"

Source: saintjavelin on Instagam

     What is likely the most bizarre ersatz anti-drone defense yet created is shown here, adorning a Russian BMP-2 IFV. The photograph started making the rounds of social media in the first week of May 2025. The defense consists of multiple lengths of heavy cables which have been unwound and the stranded steel wires that make up the cable splayed out into a cone-shaped arrangement. That the cable is heavy is because the steel wires are not bending and remain in the shape they were put into.

     It can be assumed that the intent of using such an odd method is to make it very difficult for a FPV drone operator to successfully fly his or her drone into the BMP-2 without the drone's propellers striking one or more of the wires and either becoming fouled in the wires or the propeller blades being damaged or broken. It is also possible that the wires may catch on a piece of the drone body such as on the zip-ties that are usually used to secure RPG warheads to the drone (as an example). One can imagine entering or exiting the BMP-2 is a tricky affair and that the wiring could be bent back if the vehicle runs through obstacles or closer confines such as urban terrain or wooded areas. In addition to the multiple wire bristle bunches, the BMP-2 also has the far more common anti-drone cage atop the turret. It is quite high and utilizes weighted chains on the sides rather than metal screens or chain link fencing.

     As for the exact make of the BMP-2, it looks to be a BMP-2M “Berezhok”. The name refers to the B05YA01 Berezhok (meaning “Shore”) combat module that replaces the standard BMP-2 turret. The new turret retains the 2A42 30mm autocannon and co-axial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun of the original BMP-2 but adds a AG-30M (or AGS-17) 30mm automatic grenade launcher (with 300 rounds) and two launch rails on each side of the turret for the 9M133M Kornet-M (NATO reporting name AT-14 Spriggan) anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). The BMP-2M “Berezhok” does not carry any reloads for the missiles and so only the four fitted to their launch rails are available. The standard 9M133 missile, which uses SACLOS (Semi-Automatic Command to Line Of Sight) laser beam riding guidance, can attain a maximum range of 3.4 miles can penetrate over 1,000mm of rolled homogeneous armor after explosive reactive armor (ERA) due to its tandem charge HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead.

     Other upgrades to the BMP-2M “Berezhok” include six 81mm Type 902V Tucha smoke grenade launchers, a R-168 aqueduct intercom system for the crew, PL-1 laser illuminator, BPK-3-42 gunner's sight, 1PZ-13 commander's sight, laser range finder, and a ballistic computer tied into a “Redut” fire control system (FCS). The FCS can maintain tracking on multiple targets and can continually update firing solutions for all of the turret's weapons. Some vehicles may be equipped with the more powerful UTD-23 engine but this is more to compensate for the added 2 tons of weight due to the turret and armor (see below) as performance is the same as the regular BMP-2.

     For armor, the BMP-2M “Berezhok” has the same level of protection as the standard BMP-2 hull but some vehicles, like this one, utilize the 675-sb3KDZ add-on armor kit. This adds slat armor panels to the vehicle sides, front (missing here), turret circumference, and rear. In addition, the hull sides and the lower glacis of the front hull are fitted with polymer NERA (Non-Explosive Reactive Armor) blocks. These NERA blocks (in addition to the steel mounting plates the blocks are connected to) allow the BMP-2M “Berezhok” to withstand impacts from 12.7mm heavy machine-gun ammunition and some smaller anti-tank grenades.

For more information on the base BMP-2, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/01/russo-ukrainian-war-bmp-2-141st.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The BTR-70DI Defender APC

Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

     A Ukrainian BTR-70DI “Defender”, also known as the BTR-7 “Defender”, belonging to the 151st. Mechanized Brigade. Photographed during a training exercise early in 2025, the BTR-70DI is a Ukrainian produced modernization of the Soviet BTR-70 8x8 armored personnel carrier (APC) and first appeared in 2011. Though Ukroboronprom offers refurbished BTR-70 vehicles in its export catalog, Ukroboronprom emphasizes the BTR-70DI with its upgrades and ability to be fitted with optional weapon fits that make it more lethal than the BTR-70 from which it is derived.

     Externally, the BTR-70DI looks much like the BTR-70 except that the hull was adapted to use the side hatches of a BTR-80. The BTR-70 does not have side hatches which means the troops within need to dismount by climbing out of roof hatches then clamber down the back or sides of the vehicle. The BTR-80 style side hatches are split. The upper portion of the hatch opens to the left, offering a small measure of protection as soldiers exit. The bottom half drops down, acting as a step. Total crew is three men (commander, driver, gunner) and up to seven infantrymen.

     “Under the hood”, the 13.6-ton BTR-70DI swaps out the two Soviet era 3M3-4905 petrol engines for two FPT Iveco Tector 4-cylinder, inline diesel engines with each generating 150 horsepower. The engines are paired to a mechanical transmission with a 6-speed gearbox. On roads, the BTR-70DI can achieve a top speed of 62 miles per hour while off-road (terrain depending), the maximum speed is 37 miles per hour. The BTR-70DI retains the amphibious ability of the BTR-70 with its rear mounted water jet able to propel the BTR-70DI to a top water speed of 6 miles per hour. Enough fuel is carried to provide for a maximum cruise range of 497 miles.

     The armor thickness of the BTR-70DI is classified. It uses RHA (rolled homogeneous armor) but one can assume the level of protection is similar to the BTR-70 and thus armor thickness frontally is 9mm thick while the sides and rear support 7mm thick armor as does the roof and floor. However, the floor is reinforced to STANAG 4569 Level 3 protection, allowing the BTR-70DI to withstand mines with up to 18 pounds of explosive. The turret has 6mm thick armor along the front arc. Because of the sloping on the front of the vehicle, the effective thickness of the armor is able to resist up to 12.7mm ammunition. The remainder of the protection is good against some small arms calibers and shell splinters. Other protective equipment includes an automatic fire extinguishing system and a filter ventilation system for NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) defense. As an optional piece of defensive equipment, the BTR-70DI can be fitted with the Zaslon APS (Active Protection System) which can detect incoming anti-tank missiles.

     The “out of the box” armament is shown here, consisting of BPU-1 turret fitted with a KPVT 14.5mm heavy machine-gun and a co-axial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun. The usual ammunition load is 500 rounds for the KPVT and 2,000 rounds for the PKT. The guns sit within a biplanar, electromechanical stabilizer mount with elevation and traverse controls being electromechanically powered. If need be, the turret and weapons can be manually controlled. The gunner is provided with the “Track” sighting system consisting of a day/night sight and laser rangefinder. Both the vehicle commander and gunner share the video feeds provided by the “Panorama” observation system that is tied into the “Track” system. This is in addition to the more standard TNPO-115 style vision blocks. The effective range of the KPVT is 1.9 miles with a maximum range of 2.5 miles. Rate of fire is 600 rounds per minute. The B-32 API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary) round can penetrate 32mm of RHA at 500 meters. Of course, Ukroboronprom offers two optional weapon load-outs.

     The first option is the Bug RWS (Remote Weapon Station) and this retains the KPVT and PKT but adds a AG-17 Plamya 30mm automatic grenade launcher (with 87 rounds) and two rails for the Barrier ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile). Also known as the Stugna-P or Skif, the Barrier ATGM can be guided via laser beam or set to engage automatically upon launch. Maximum range in daylight is 3 miles while at night, 1.9 miles. The 130mm RK-2S tandem-charge HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) missile's warhead can drill through 1,000mm of RHA armor after explosive reactive armor (ERA). The Bug RWS has two Barrier ATGMs on the rails with another two missiles carried within the BTR-70DI for reloading. The PKT machine-gun's ammunition quantity drops to 1,500 rounds.

     The second option is the Ingul RWS and this replaces the KPVT with a ZTM-2 30mm automatic cannon, the Ukrainian produced version of the Russian Shipunov 2A42. 360 rounds are provided and the ZTM-2 has a rate of fire as low as 200 rounds per minute up to 800 rounds per minute. The ZTM-2 has a dual feed, allowing for a mix of ammunition. The usual is the 3UBR6 APBC-T (Armor-Piercing, Ballistic Cap – Tracer) round that can defeat 20mm of RHA at a 60 degree slope at .4 of a mile while the 3UOF8 HEI (High-Explosive Incendiary) round can be fired out to 2.5 miles. The co-axial PKT is retained with 1,500 rounds of ammunition as well as two rails for the Barrier ATGM (two missiles ready to fire, two reloads stored in the vehicle). A Tucha smoke discharger system is fitted to the front of the turret face with two banks of three smoke grenade launcher tubes.

     Other equipment includes an air-conditioning system for crew comfort, a R-173M radio station, R-173Pv radio receiver, AVSK intercom set for the crew, independent suspension, and all-wheel drive.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Knocked Out Russian BTR-82A

Source: Reddit.

     A knocked out Russian BTR-82A IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle), photographed sometime in the late spring or early summer of 2024. Of note is the Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks placed as best possible on the turret, hull front, and sides of the vehicle. ERA is not something the BTR-82A is normally fitted with, hence the haphazard placement. The crew also added slat armor, a single (and scorched) panel seen on the right side and another just visible on the left side near the driver's hatch. Despite all the added defense, it did not stop the BTR-82A from being put out of action. The BTR-82A is an improved version of the similar looking BTR-80A and it first appeared to the public as a prototype in 2009. By 2013, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially accepted the BTR-82A for service.

     Power for the 16-ton 8x8 wheeled BTR-82A comes from a KamAZ-740.14-300 diesel engine that develops 300 horsepower and is paired to a fixed-ratio, manual transmission. This permits the BTR-82A to obtain a top road speed of 50 miles per hour. Off-road, the speed is lower though cross-country performance is assisted by a central tire inflation system (CTIS) and heavy duty shock absorbers. The BTR-82A is amphibious and can achieve a top water speed of 6 miles per hour in calm water. Rear-mounted water jet provides propulsion. Enough fuel is carried to permit a maximum cruise range of 435 miles.

     The primary armament is a 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon mounted in a unmanned turret. The 2A72 uses a dual-feed and typically has a combination of AP-T (Armor-Piercing Tracer) and HE-I (High-Explosive Incendiary) ammunition to permit the gunner to engage different target types. Total ammunition capacity for the cannon is 300 rounds. The HE-I ammunition has an effective range of 1.2 miles (and against slow, low-flying aircraft,  2.5 miles) while the AP-T ammunition can defeat up to 25mm of armor at a 60 degree slope from a maximum range of .6 of a mile. Fitted co-axially is a 7.62mm PKTM machine-gun which is provided with 2,000 rounds. The weapons are fitted to a 2-plane, electro-mechanical stabilizer with the turret providing 360 degrees of traverse while the gun mount offers 70 degrees of elevation and 5 degrees of depression. Traverse speed of the turret is up to 6 degrees per second. The gunner is provided with a TKN-4GA-01 day/night sight and FCS (Fire Control System) which permits engagement from the halt or on the move. The commander is provided with a TKN-AI surveillance camera, that includes a laser rangefinder, for locating targets out to a maximum range of 1.9 miles. On each side of the BTR-82A's hull are three firing ports for the crew and/or passengers to utilize their small arms.

     The BTR-82A has improved laminate armor over the BTR-80A's hardened steel but what thickness (or equivalent) it has isn't fully known. It is very likely on par with STANAG 4569 Level III armor protection which means it can defeat up to 7.62x54Rmm API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary) ammunition at 30 meters and 155mm shell fragments at 60 meters. As for mines, it can protect the vehicle's occupants from mines with up to 18 pounds of explosive. Additional protection to the crew of  three (commander, driver, and gunner) and passengers (up to 7 infantrymen) is provided by interior spall liners and a reinforced, multi-layer floor along with blast resistant seats. Finally, an automatic fire suppression system equips the BTR-82A as well as a 902V Tucha 81mm smoke grenade launcher system with six launchers mounted on the turret front. 

     Other equipment includes a R-168-25-U2 digital radio system with encryption, Trona-1 topographic orientation system (which taps into independent satellites for navigational data) to enhance the vehicle's navigation system which uses the Russian GLONASS global positioning system (and can also use the NavStar GPS), APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) to permit the BTR-82A to function with the engine off, heating/air-conditioning system, bilge pump, and a NBC system (using over-pressure).

Russo-Ukrainian War: BMP-2, 141st. Mechanized Brigade

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     A Ukrainian BMP-2 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) belonging to the 141st. Mechanized Brigade, late autumn 2024. This particular example had been updated by the Zhytomyr Armored Vehicle Factory back in 2021 though it is missing the side skirts. The crew has added a anti-drone cage on the turret and lashed a log unditching beam to the back of the vehicle (a common practice). The BMP-2 is one of the most common IFVs in the world with over 35,000 having been built since 1979 (including variants). It first entered service in 1980 in the Soviet Army and is the successor to the original BMP-1.

     The typical power plant for the 14-ton BMP-2 is a UTD-20 series, water-cooled, 6-cylinder diesel engine that develops 300 horsepower which is paired to a manual transmission with a 6-speed gearbox (5 forward, 1 reverse). This provides a maximum road speed of 40 miles per hour and, terrain depending, up to 28 miles per hour off-road. Being amphibious, the top speed in calm waters is 4 miles per hour using its tracks as propulsion. 122 gallons of fuel are carried which provides for a maximum cruise range of 342 miles.

     For armament, the 2-man turret is fitted with a 2A42 30mm autocannon, a co-axial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun, and pintle mount on the turret roof for a 9M113 Konkurs (“Contest”; NATO reporting name AT-5 Spandrel) ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile). The Shipunov 2A42, which uses a gas-operated action, has a rate of fire between 200 to 300 rounds per minute or 550 to 800 rounds per minute depending on the gunner's selection. The two most common rounds are the 3UOF8 HEI (High-Explosive Incendiary) and the 3UBR6 APBC-T (Armor-Piercing Ballistic Cap Tracer). The 3UBR6 can penetrate 20mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 60 degree slope at .4 of a mile but can reach 1.2 miles in effective range though the penetration value drops significantly. The 3UOF8 has a maximum range of 2.5 miles. The 2A42 uses a dual feed so the weapon can utilized mixed ammunition. The turret provides for 360 degree of traverse while the 2E36-1 2-plane, stabilized gun mount allows up to 75 degrees in elevation (and 5 degrees of depression), allowing for engagement of low flying aircraft (a 1PZ-3 scope is provided for the commander in this task). The usual ammunition load is 160 rounds of armor-piercing and 340 rounds of high-explosive. The PKT is provided with 2,000 rounds of ammunition. The gunner is provided with a BPK-1-2 binocular sight with low light capability, a TNPT-1 designator, and a FG-126 infrared searchlight (mounted co-axially with the cannon). For the Konkurs, four missiles are carried and the aiming is fully manual. Finally, there are seven firing ports (three per rear side; one in the left rear entry/exit door) for use by occupants in the troop compartment.

     The BMP-2 uses welded steel alloy armor to protect the 3 man crew and up to seven infantrymen with the front hull supporting between 16mm to 25mm thick armor but thanks to the slope angle, the equivalent is 30mm to 46mm. The turret has 20mm thick armor all around but with the angled turret, the equivalent is 28mm. Most BMP-2 turrets have 6mm thick appliqué armor added to them with similar plating on the hull sides. The side armor of the BMP-2 is approximately 13mm thick but benefits little from sloping. Frontally, the BMP-2 is said to be able to withstand standard 23mm armor-piercing rounds while the sides can protect against 7.62x39mm armor-piercing bullets. Other protective systems include a GO-27 radiological/chemical detector, a PAZ overpressure NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) system, fire suppression system, and two turret mounted Type 902V Tucha smoke grenade dischargers with three tubes for 81mm grenades per discharger.

     For communication, the BMP-2 is equipped with either a R-123M or R-173 radio. Other systems include a GPK-59 gyrocompass, TNPO-170A periscope (for the driver), TNPO-170A periscopes for the firing ports, OU-3GA2 infrared searchlight on the turret for the commander, TNP-165A designator (for the commander), TKN-3B binocular day/low light sight (for the commander), and a TVNE-1PA night vision scope.