Russia Sends a 1960s MT-LB Into Battle With Anti-Drone Armor—Ukraine Destroys It Anyway

Ukrainian drone operators tracked and destroyed a Russian armored vehicle carrying infantry, stopping the unit’s attempted advance, Ukraine’s Ares Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 253rd Separate Assault Regiment reported, according to ArmyInform on November 9.

The vehicle was first located through reconnaissance before Ukrainian operators continued monitoring its movement and waited for an opportunity to strike.

“Continuous control of the skies, drones, and robotic technologies are the key to successfully destroying the occupiers. The movement of an enemy infantry fighting vehicle with infantry was detected. As a result of a precise strike from the air, the enemy armored vehicle together with its personnel was destroyed, and the attempted advance was thwarted,” Ares said.

Footage of the strike appears to show a Russian MT-LB fitted with additional anti-drone protection.

The MT-LB is a Soviet-designed multipurpose tracked armored vehicle introduced into service in the 1960s. Originally developed as a lightly armored tractor and transport platform, it has been adapted over decades for troop transport, weapons carriers, command vehicles, and numerous improvised battlefield roles.

The vehicle’s protection is relatively light, with frontal armor of roughly 14mm and side and rear armor of around 7mm.

In the latest footage, the MT-LB appears to have received additional armor intended to improve its chances against drone attacks—a modification increasingly seen on Russian vehicles as FPV drones have become one of the dominant threats on the battlefield.

The extra protection, however, did not prevent Ukrainian operators from identifying the vehicle, following its movement, and striking it while Russian personnel were traveling with it.

Earlier, a Ukrainian ground-based robotic platform armed with a heavy machine gun engaged a similar Russian armored vehicle at point-blank range during a field test near the front line.

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