Russian friendly fire incident: BMP‑3 crew destroys own BMP‑2 in Kursk
A recording of one of the clashes between Ukrainians and Russians in the Kursk region has surfaced online. It shows a major mistake by the Russians manning a BMP-3 vehicle, who destroyed a BMP-2 fighting on their own side instead of a Ukrainian vehicle.
Usually, friendly fire results from the mistaken identification of targets as hostile. As observers and military analysts on social media note, this is most likely the case here as well, which is somewhat surprising because, as seen in the footage, both Russian vehicles were very close to each other.
Russian friendly fire
The crew of the Russian BMP-3 attacked and consequently destroyed their friendly BMP-2. Meanwhile, Kozak, a Ukrainian light-armoured vehicle with a 4x4 drive, calmly moved to a safe location. The incident took place in the village of Ruskaya Konopelka.
BMP-2 is an infantry fighting vehicle from the 1980s that the Russians often used during the war with Ukraine, not only on their territory but also in clashes in the Kursk region. It can hold up to 11 people (three crew members and a maximum of eight troops). The BMP-2 is almost 7 metres long but weighs relatively little, just 14 tonnes, due to its weak armour.
Russian combat vehicles
The Russians have managed to noticeably improve durability in the newer BMP-3. Produced since the 1980s, this infantry fighting vehicle is similar in length but significantly heavier—it weighs about 19 tonnes. It has stronger armour, providing the crew with a much higher chance of survival in the event of an enemy attack, and additionally offers a better arsenal.
The BMP-3 has a low-pressure 100 mm cannon that can fire fragmentation shells or 9K116 Bastion anti-tank guided missiles. It also has a 30 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun. Its tracked drive and approximately 670 horsepower engine allow it to reach a maximum speed of approximately 70 km/h.
The problems and increasing disorientation of Russians fighting in the Kursk region are the result of the good organisation of Ukrainian operations, which also attacked with a very diverse arsenal. Some elite Ukrainian brigades have been deployed to operations on Russian territory, and they also have equipment from NATO countries. In reports appearing on social media, one could already see, among other things, American Stryker armoured vehicles, Oncilla armoured personnel carriers, and the PT-91 Twardy tank from Poland, as well as HIMARS artillery.
