The Ukrainian soldiers captured enough BMP-3 tracked armored IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) of the Russian army to equip one infantry motorized battalion. Several pictures and videos were published on social networks showing the 98th Territorial Defense Battalion Azov equipped with a mix of Russian-made BMP-3 IVS and YPR-765 light tracked APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) vehicles donated by the Netherlands.
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Russian BMP-3 tracked armored IFVs Infantry Fighting Vehicles are now operated by the 98th Territorial Defense Battalion Azov of the Ukrainian army. (Picture source Screen Shot Video footage posted on Telegram)
According to open source information published on Internet, more than 200 BMP-3 tracked armored IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) of the Russian army would have been destroyed, damaged, or captured by the Ukrainian soldiers. Of these 200 BMP-3 IFVs, 68 are now in the hands of the Ukrainian army.
According to information published on the Internet and Social Networks, since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian army soldiers have already captured a large number of Russian armored vehicles and tanks which are repaired and then returned to service to continue the fight within the Ukrainian armed forces.
The BMP-3 is the latest generation of IFV in the BMP family developed and manufactured by the Russian defense industry. It entered into service with the Russian army in 1990. The BMP-3 is considered the most armed IFV in the world. In fact, the vehicle is fitted with a 2K23 weapon system consisting of a 100 mm 2A70 gun, a 30 mm 2A72 coaxial cannon, and one 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun. Two more 7.62mm PKT machine guns are mounted at the front of the hull, one on each side.
The 100 mm 2A70 rifled gun can fire 3UOF17 and 3OF32 high-explosive fragmentation rounds at a rate of 8 to 10 rds/min, or the 3UBK-10-3 with the 9M117 laser-guided anti-tank missiles. The 9M117 missile is able to penetrate between 650 and 700 mm of conventional steel armor. Russia has also developed the 9M117M and 9M117M1 fitted with a tandem warhead able to penetrate ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor). The missile has a firing range from 100 to 5,500 m.
Russian BMP-3 IFV captured by Ukrainian soldiers. (Picture source Social Network)
The hull and turret of the BMP-3 are of all-welded aluminum armor construction providing the crew with protection against the firing of small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. The vehicle has a crew of three including a driver seated at the front center of the hull, a commander and a gunner in the turret. It can accommodate seven infantrymen, one located to the left and right of the driver's position, each provided with a roof hatch that opens forward. The five other infantrymen are seated at the rear of the hull. Infantrymen can enter and leave the vehicle via two doors fitted at the rear of the hull that open to the left and right. As these doors are opened steps automatically fold down.
The BMP-3 is motorized with a UTD-29M 10-cylinder 4-stroke liquid-cooled diesel engine developing 500 hp coupled to a hydro-mechanical transmission with 4 forward and 2 reverse gears. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 70 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 600 km.
The BMP-3 is also fully amphibious being propelled in the water at a maximum speed of 10 km/h thanks to two water jets mounted on either side low down at the rear of the hull.
The Russian-made BMP-3 is considered the most armed IFV in the world. (Picture source Army Recognition)
