The BTR-50 was first revealed in 2023, and Russia continues to deploy these vehicles on the battlefield today.

New photos of the BTR-50 armored personnel carriers used by the Russian occupation forces have surfaced online. These pertain to the BTR-50PK combat vehicle, which is equipped with a BPU-1 turret, as well as the command variant BTR-50PU, which the Russians likely employ as a standard armored vehicle. Images of these vehicles were published in the social and lifestyle magazine "Vodogray."

Notably, attention is drawn to the fact that these armored personnel carriers have received drone protection in the form of "mangals." According to sources of these photos, this modification was carried out at the end of last year or the beginning of this year, and it is likely that the Russians are using these vehicles in the Donetsk region.

In fact, it became known nearly two years ago, in February 2023, that the Russians planned to deploy old Soviet BTR-50s on the battlefield. At that time, the first images emerged showing the enemy transporting these armored personnel carriers to the front lines. The deployment of these outdated vehicles raised questions about what else Russia might retrieve from its reserves.

In the spring of 2023, these vehicles reappeared in a video where it was evident that the Russians had chosen ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns as armament for one of their BTR-50s.

Meanwhile, in November of the year before last, the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed the first Russian BTR-50. The 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade showcased footage from the Avdiivka direction featuring destroyed armored vehicles of the Russian occupation army, among which was this armored personnel carrier.

Previously, Defense Express reported on why the Russians do not conduct assaults with BTR-70s and what happens to their BMPs after being hit by grenades.