Russia deploys ‘Terminator’ combat vehicle in Donbas offensive

Russia has likely deployed its only operational BMP-T ‘Terminator’ tank support vehicle unit in its Donbas offensive against Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated.

The unit of ten vehicles is part of the “Sievierodonetsk axis of the Donbas offensive,” the UK Defence Intelligence (DI) stated, adding that the limited number of vehicles is likely to have “no significant impact” on the Donbas campaign.

Sievierodonetsk is in Luhansk Oblast. With Donetsk Oblast it forms the larger Donbas region abutting Russia.

Russian forces have captured a large chunk of the Donbas region, with only its central west still under Ukraine’s control.

Since Tuesday, Russian forces have intensified their operation in Luhansk, sending out thousands of troops to capture the last remaining areas of Sievierodonetsk on the east bank of the Siverskyi Donets river and Lysychansk on the west bank.

The DI said that Russia’s Central Grouping of Forces (CGF) is likely to have been involved in the offensive, as it’s the only formation operating the Terminator.

The CGF was involved in the Kyiv offensive early in the war, failing to break through the capital’s eastern defenses while suffering heavy casualties, the DI added.

Russia inducted its first batch of Terminators in December after a year of trials.

The vehicle is an upgraded version of the BMPT tank support combat vehicle developed by UralVagonZavod Corporation.

The Terminator is equipped with the “Ataka supersonic anti-tank missile system — capable of striking targets at up to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) — two 30mm guns for infantry forces and helicopters, two grenade launchers, and a Kalashnikov submachine gun. It has a top speed of 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour.”