Rarog Operators Strike Rare Vystrel Armored Vehicle

Operators of the 427th Rarog Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment hunted down a rare Russian BPM-97 Vystrel armored vehicle.

The video was published on the regiment’s official Telegram account.

The Russians were using the armored vehicle to transport personnel when an FPV drone from the unit struck it.

It is worth noting that Vystrel armored vehicles are extremely rare, as since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russians have lost only five vehicles of this type: two were destroyed beyond recovery, and the Ukrainian Defense Forces captured three.

The use of these armored vehicles by Russian forces against Ukrainian defense units is not unprecedented. As early as January 2015, BPM-97 “Vystrel” vehicles were spotted in the city of Krasnodon, Luhansk region. Their distinctive tactical markings allowed them to be identified as part of the 7th Russian Military Base (Unit No. 09332), stationed in Gudauta, Abkhazia.

Around a dozen vehicles of this type were also observed during training exercises of separatist units in the Luhansk region. Based on photo evidence from open sources, it is estimated that during the Joint Forces Operation period, the enemy lost at least four armored vehicles of this model.

Notably, production of this type of armored vehicle started in 2008, and by 2013, approximately 150 units of the KamAZ-43269 Vystrel had been manufactured. Production was carried out at the Remdizel plant (a subsidiary of KamAZ), using armored hulls produced at the Kurgan Machine-Building Plant.

The vehicle itself proved to be rather unsuccessful and suffered from significant reliability issues, including broken suspension springs, driveshaft failures, and cracks in the armor plates. Due to these problems, its use within the regular armed forces was limited, and in most cases, it was deployed by various security and law enforcement agencies.

It is worth noting that the appearance of such vehicles may indicate a shortage of equipment for assault operations, as Russian forces are actively restoring equipment from storage bases amid a growing number of assaults using civilian vehicles, quad bikes, and motorcycles.

For example, units of the 10th Edelweiss Mountain Assault Brigade repelled a Russian assault in the Siversk sector involving civilian vehicles.

The vehicles used by the enemy included Russian-made civilian cars equipped with anti-drone protection, as well as modified with removed doors and trunks.

In total, the enemy deployed 12 civilian vehicles, all of which the Ukrainian defenders successfully destroyed.