A battle between two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) demonstrated the intense and unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict.
Tank to Tank Duel
The clash, which took place at a road intersection, featured one Ukrainian BMP-2 squaring off against its Russian counterpart.
According to reports, Ukrainian forces, possibly aided by a reconnaissance drone, were able to fire the first shots. The initial rounds appeared to be fragmentation-incendiary 3UOF8 shells, which contain 49 grams (1.7 oz) of explosive material.
These rounds caused enough damage or panic to prompt the Russian crew to abandon their vehicle. Ukrainian troops then captured the intact Russian BMP-2.
Considered Outdated
The BMP-2, introduced in the 1980s as a modernized version of the BMP-1, remains a common vehicle on both sides of the conflict, though it is considered outdated compared to Western armored vehicles.
Weighing approximately 15 metric tons (33,000 lbs), the BMP-2 has amphibious capabilities but lacks significant armor protection. Its front armor can withstand anti-armor rounds up to 23 mm, but its sides are vulnerable to weapons like the 7.62 mm FN FAL loaded with tungsten-core ammunition.
Although lightly armored, the BMP-2’s 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannon makes it a formidable opponent against infantry and lightly armored vehicles. However, it lacks advanced night vision or thermal sights, limiting its effectiveness in poor weather conditions or at night.
