Image Source: Photo: bmpvsu.ru
A new escalation in the Donbas, if it does end with the Ukrainian offensive, will lead to heavy losses of the parties in light armored vehicles.
Currently, the main combat vehicles of the warring parties are still the same BMP-1, BMP-2, plus a small number of amphibious BMDS of the first and second generations remain in service with the APU.
Among the armored personnel carriers, there is also nothing new, the people's militia of the unrecognized republics of Donbass is armed only with the BTR-80. The APU continues to exploit them. Plus, they have BTR-3, BTR-4, as well as old Soviet BTR-70, BTR-60 and their upgraded versions. You can also recall the English AT105 "Saxon", armored vehicles of various brands.
For the delivery of personnel on both sides of the front, lightly armored MT-LB tractors are used.
Most of the above equipment does not have additional protection. Except for the Ukrainian BTR-4 anti-cumulative screens were installed. Therefore, based on the experience of previous military operations in the Donbas, as well as local conflicts in recent decades, we can confidently say that the parties will suffer monstrous losses in the BMP, BTR and MT-LB.
At the same time, it is possible that armored vehicles, in which there are troops in addition to the crew, will often be destroyed. Military experts believe that if the active phase of the conflict is prolonged, the infantry in this hot spot will already be transported by car.
And in the armies of other states, the military will buy more heavily armored IFVs and APCs with active protection systems.
Dmitry Lemeshko
