Massacre near Avdiivka: Russians lose incredibly rare vehicle
8:41 PM EST, December 11, 2023
In the region of Avdiivka, relentless attacks by the Russians have resulted in significant equipment losses. Among the most notable losses is an armored vehicle named the BTR-90, of which only 12 units exist in the world.
The battle for Avdiivka has proven to be vigorous, with both sides deploying their best forces. The Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade has fielded M2A2 Bradley ODS Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) for example. On the Russian side, units like the BTR-90 armored transporters; intended successors to the aging BTR-80, have been notable.
Likely falling victim to artillery or 'kamikaze' drones which often track down individual Russian soldiers, this vehicle's loss is significant. The silver lining, however, is that the BTR-90 did not completely burn out. This implies that either side may be able to recover and possibly restore it in the future.
The BTR-90: The Abandoned Final Evolution of Russian BTR Transporters
Introduced in 1994 following the dissolution of the USSR, the BTR-90 was the brainchild of engineers at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant (AMZ). The vehicle was intended to succeed the previous BTR-80 transporters by rectifying several design flaws.
The main enhancements included a redesign of the front armor to eliminate identifiable hatches from older models, thereby enhancing ballistic protection. The second significant change was the inclusion of a turret sourced from the BMP-2. This turret was equipped with a 30mm automatic 2A42 gun, a 30mm AGS-17 machine gun, and a launcher with four 9M113 Konkurs anti-tank guided missiles.
Additional modifications entailed widening the side doors for embarking forces and implementing a V-shaped hull to resist mines better. As a result, a heavily armed machine was created. It weighed 48,502 lbs and could accommodate a three-person crew and up to seven infantry soldiers.
The Russian army inducted the BTR-90 into service in 2008. However, after producing just 12 units in the initial batch, production was halted in 2011 due to budget cuts. The strategic focus shifted towards a more cost-effective modernization of the older BTR-80A units to the BTR-82A standard.
