Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
That’s one way to use an armored personnel carrier …
Ukraine’s Third Army Corps, which is currently conducting Operation Vivaldi against the Russian forces in Donetsk, has recently transformed a Soviet-era BTR-60 armored personnel carrier into a giant remotely operated attack vehicle.
Operators steered the heavy eight-wheeled machine completely from afar using live video feeds and directional signals.
A scouting drone followed overhead throughout the mission. Hovering directly above the route, the aerial operator adjusted the vehicle’s path in real time as the heavy carrier closed in on its intended target.
The bold strike targeted positions near the village of Nove along the active Lyman axis. According to Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps, which detailed the assault on September 28, the crewless carrier drove straight into some of the most formidable positions in the sector.
“They were used to blow up the enemy’s strongest fortifications,” 3rd Army Corps commander Andrii Biletskyi said.
Click to display external content from t.co,
- You can always enable and disable third-party content.
You agree to display external third-party content. Personal data may be sent to the provider of the content and other third-party services.
Old machines reborn
The BTR-60 dates back to the late 1950s. After entering mass production in 1960, Soviet assembly lines manufactured thousands of these eight-wheeled armored personnel carriers in several distinct variants across many decades.
Today, these aging steel hulls serve a far different purpose on the battlefield. Mechanics strip out internal crew seating and install wireless control systems, effectively converting retired troop transports into heavy remote-controlled assault weapons that keep frontline infantry out of harm’s way.
This innovative approach formed a core element of Operation Vivaldi. Launched by the 3rd Army Corps across northern Donetsk this before Summer, the broader military campaign aims to reclaim occupied territory from Russian forces.
To achieve that goal, commanders systematically combine traditional infantry squads with airborne drones and specialized ground-based robotic units.
Ukrainian troops also deployed compact ground robots fitted with automatic grenade launchers to assault defensive lines without directly exposing foot soldiers during initial attacks.
