Ukraine’s Old Soviet-era BMP-1 Vehicles Just Keep on Fighting

The BMP-1 could be considered a museum piece, however, it is difficult to fight in Ukraine.

Both Russian and Ukrainian weapons supplies continue to decrease while almost a three -year war. From aircraft and major battle tanks to pedestrian fighter vehicles (IFV) and other ammunitions, military systems on both sides of the war have suffered great losses. One pedestrian combat vehicle presented for the first time during the Cold War, Moscow and Kiev are still using. The BMP-1 could be considered a museum piece, however, his role in this war of the twenty-first century indicates how hungry weapons and Russia and Ukraine are.

A recent report that he has published, for example details How the Ukrainian crew with the 1st Battalion 40. Coast Defense Brigade used its Soviet-designed BMP-1 to protect its troops near the Dnipro River. According to crew members, they often deploy new navigation, targeting systems and updated cannons built into an old pedestrian combat vehicle to attack the critical coast of Rijeka against Russian positions. Located in KHerson, the Dnipro River represents part of the thin line of Ukrainian soldiers that extend throughout the country. Kherson is still one of the most dangerous regions in the country, as Russian forces often target the area with barracks in drones (UAV). It is significant that Moscow has previously taken control of Kherson earlier in the war. But Kherson remains in Ukrainian hands, partly because of the upgraded Arsenal of Soviet weapons in Ukraine.

BMP-1 review

The Soviet BMP-1 Amphibi followed pedestrian combat vehicle was first presented in the mid-1960s. Quickly, it became the first massively produced IFV to have ever been on the field. The concept that stands behind BMP-1 series It was derived from the Soviet arrangement of armored carriers (APC) as “battle taxis” during World War II. Since the APCs were not completely sealed, they provided minimal troupe protection that had already had to get out of the vehicle to launch a weapon. The BMP-1 model corrected these questions. After being tested by Syrian and Egyptian forces at the 1973 Yom Kippur War against Israel, the USSR further adjusted the design to better fit the needs of its troops.

Introducing Kyiv’s upgraded BMP-1

When the BMP-1 first entered the service, he was equipped span the abilities that made him superior to his predecessor APC. Ukrainian modified arsenal of these aging BMPS contains additional modifications that increase their skill in modern times. Kyiv hulls replaced old troops of combat vehicles with new combat modules, often sports modern optics and 23 mm or 30 mm Autocanons. Last year, videos showing one of these fighter vehicles equipped with KBA-2 30 mm Autocanon that circulated on social networks. These combinations of fire control and weapons “should allow BMP-1 crew to hire goals a thousand meters away”, according to a Forbes report.

Although the Ukrainian BMP-1 may help the defense efforts of the country in invasion, these pedestrian combat vehicles are certainly not invincible against some of the incredible Russian UAV. Open code intelligence Tracker Oryx It is estimated that Ukraine has lost at least 500 IFV since the beginning of the war in 2023. That number has certainly increased in the last year and a half.

About the author: Maya Carlin

Maya CarlinThe national security writer with national interest, is an analyst of the Center for Security Policy and former associate Anna Sobol Levy in the IDC Herzliya in Israel. There are lines in many publications, including national interest, Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel. You can follow it on Twitter: @Mayacarlin. In the last few years, Carlin has been published over 1,000 articles on various defense issues.

Picture: Shutterstock.