Title: Russian Innovation or Folly? DIY BTRs from T-62 Tanks Fall Prey to Ukrainian Drones
In a curious turn of events, Russia has resorted to converting old T-62 tanks into makeshift armored personnel carriers (APCs), only to see them swiftly eliminated by Ukrainian drones. Recent setbacks in Russia’s mechanized offensives on the eastern front have left a trail of destroyed military hardware, with analysts counting over a dozen vehicles wiped out in a single engagement, as reported by Forbes.
Among the wreckage, two peculiar new tracked vehicles stood out. These improvised APCs, built on the hulls of T-62 tanks, had five road wheels on each side and a makeshift, towering superstructure. The idea behind this MacGyver-esque approach was to utilize the 33-ton, heavily armored hull of the T-62, combined with a powerful 580-horsepower engine, to provide protection and space for infantry.
However, even these resourceful contraptions proved no match for the swarms of Ukrainian drones operating in open terrain. A recent video appeared online, indicating that the "graveyard" of vehicles lies near Chasiv Yar. Military experts predict more such jury-rigged vehicles appearing on the battlefield, as Russia grapples with the immense loss of its regular armored fleet over the past three years.
"Any mechanized assault is effectively halted in 20 to 60 minutes," a Ukrainian military source told a Russian-language Telegram channel. Russian war correspondents have been blunt about their chances against Ukrainian drone attacks: "Every piece of armor burns up under the sky, swarming with tiny drones, before reaching its target."
Earlier, Dialog.UA reported that Ukrainian forces continue to rain down rocket strikes on Russian positions, both on the frontlines and in the rear, while a unit from the 80th Brigade employed a Stryker armored vehicle to hunt down Russian occupiers in the Kursk region.
