Reports from Russian media indicate that an M113 armored personnel carrier, a relic of the Vietnam era, was captured in Avdiivka. The outlet cited by RIA News described the incident as the seizure of U.S. equipment from a past conflict and highlighted the vehicle’s intact condition after capture.
A Ukrainian soldier, identified by the call sign Rotor and serving with a separate repair and evacuation weapons regiment, commented that armored personnel carriers are being used to transport 120‑mm mortars. He noted specifically that the M113 is employed to move 120 mm mortar systems, underscoring its transport role on the battlefield.
The same report claimed the captured M113 remained undamaged and fully operational following the capture, suggesting it could potentially be pressed into combat support roles if required.
Earlier, Yan Gagin, an adviser to the president of the Donetsk People’s Republic, remarked on a different piece of equipment — a disabled M1 Abrams tank delivered to Ukraine from the United States. He stated that the Abrams lacked certain technical innovations and that portions of its advanced systems had been removed before delivery.
Gagin explained that Western equipment supplied to Ukraine often arrives in a simplified configuration, and when more complex platforms are provided, Western specialists typically accompany the equipment to assist with its operation and integration on the ground.
In a broader public statement, President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s security objectives are aimed at preventing the flare of hostilities from escalating to Russian territory, reaffirming a strategic stance on frontline operations and risk management.