Cambodian Army Captures Thai BTR-3E1 Ukrainian-Made APC

Soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have captured a Thai BTR-3E1 Ukrainian-made armored personnel carrier.

Military observer T-55AM1 published the photo on X.

According to available reports, the Thai crew abandoned the vehicle on a section of the Thai-Cambodian border.

Judging by the photo, the APC may have accidentally entered a ditch separating the road from agricultural land while reversing. The crew likely could not recover the vehicle and was forced to leave it behind.

The BTR-3E1 was captured without visible damage and is believed to be fully operational. It could potentially be used against Thai forces in the future.

Thailand has previously deployed other Ukrainian-made weapons in Cambodia, including Oplot-T main battle tanks.

BTR-3E in Thailand

Thailand began receiving BTR-3E1 vehicles from Ukraine in 2006, with an initial transfer of 96 vehicles in various configurations, including combat, medical, anti-tank with ATGMs, mortar carriers (81-mm and 120-mm), and command and maintenance vehicles.

A second batch of 121 BTR-3E1s was later ordered, costing roughly 5 billion baht.

In August 2010, the Royal Thai Navy signed a separate contract for 14 BTR-3E1s for the Royal Thai Marine Corps, which were fitted with MTU engines and Edison transmissions.

In August 2013, Thailand signed another contract for 21 vehicles — 15 BTR-3E1s and 6 BTR-3RKs — with partial local production in Thailand.

Deployment of these vehicles along the disputed border section began on July 24, 2025, following renewed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, including air and artillery exchanges.