During the clashes between Ukrainian and russian forces in the Kursk region, a noteworthy incident occurred. During an assault by russian airborne units on a position held by Ukraine's 22nd Mechanized Brigade, one of the russian combat vehicles ran over its own soldiers, injuring them and forcing them to halt the attack.
The video capturing this moment was released by the press service of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From the footage, it was possible to identify the vehicle involved: a BMD-4.
Read more: Ka-52 Pilot Commits Friendly Fire in Kursk, Gets Sent to "Atone" on the Frontline
At first glance, this episode might appear as yet another example of russian forces displaying negligence or even cruelty towards their own troops. However, this is not the first incident within the russian military, especially since the beginning of Ukraine's military operations in the Kursk region of russia.
For instance, there was a previous case where a russian Ka-52 attack helicopter mistakenly fired on a convoy of friendly military vehicles. The pilot, in an attempt to atone for the guilt, reportedly volunteered to fight on the frontline as an infantryman. Defense Express highlighted this case as a symptom of deeper issues within the russian army,such as the poor quality of cockpit equipment in russian helicopters and ongoing communication failures between units.
With that context in mind, it’s possible to find a rational explanation for this latest incident involving the BMD-4. What stands out is that the russians attempted to use this vehicle as an "armored taxi" to transport personnel to the battlefield, in the first place.
Despite its designation as a Boyevaya Mashina Desanta (BMD) — literally a "combat vehicle for landing" — the war in Ukraine has shown that the BMD-4’s armor is too thin to adequately protect both the crew and the soldiers inside.
Since around October 2023, russian invasion forces have only used their BMD-4Ms to provide fire support from a distance. Yet in this case, russian forces in Kursk suddenly decided to revert to their original tactics, using the BMD-4 to transport and directly accompany assault troops.
Another detail worth noting is that the soldiers were riding on top of the armored vehicle, despite the BMD-4's design, which can carry up to five soldiers inside its landing compartment. Furthermore, the chaotic nature of maneuvers, combined with the erratic driving of the vehicle, underscores the disorder in the operation.
Given these factors, it seems likely that this incident occurred because the russian paratroopers involved simply had not adequately practiced disembarking from a BMD-4, resulting in the accident.
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