Thailand Deploys Ukrainian-Made BTR-3E1s on Border With Cambodia

The Royal Thai Army has deployed BTR-3E1 armored personnel carriers near the Khlong Luek Border Checkpoint on the border with Cambodia.

A video of the movement of these combat vehicles was posted by the user War Noir on the X network.

The BTR-3E1s were deployed as part of strengthening deterrence measures on the border with Cambodia after the active phase of hostilities between the countries began. As of today, the Royal Thai Army has approximately 230 combat vehicles of this type in various versions.

The video shows a variant with a BM-3 ‘Assault’ combat module equipped with a 30 mm ZTM-1 cannon and mounts for Barrier-B anti-tank missiles.

Deliveries of these combat vehicles to Thailand began in 2006, when Ukraine delivered the first batch of 96 BTR-3E1s, including various modifications: combat vehicles, ambulances, with ATGMs, with 81 mm and 120 mm mortars, command and maintenance vehicles.

Later, Thailand ordered a second batch of 121 BTR-3E1s worth THB 5 billion.

Another 14 BTR-3E1s were ordered by the Royal Thai Navy for use by the Royal Marine Corps in August 2010, with an MTU engine and Edison transmission.

In August 2013, another contract was signed for 21 vehicles (15 BTR-3E1 and 6 BTR-3RK) with the condition of localization in Thailand.

The deployment of these combat vehicles began on July 24, 2025, when fighting broke out between Thailand and Cambodia along the disputed border.

On that day, the parties exchanged air and artillery strikes.

Early Thursday morning, the Thai military said Cambodian troops had fired on their base in an area near the ancient temple of Prasat Ta Muen Thom located on disputed territory in Thailand’s southern Surin province and northwestern Cambodia.

The Thais claim that Cambodia launched drones in front of the temple before sending its military with weapons. The Cambodian side denies this and insists that it was Thai soldiers who opened fire first.