A train carrying heavy Russian military equipment including heavy tanks, self-propelled artillery and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles has crossed the bridge to crimea.
Russia has sent a train carrying 152 mm MSTA-S self-propelled artillery, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, heavy tanks and many other weapons across the bridge connecting the Crimean peninsula with Russia. It is not clear how much weapons and soldiers Russia is transferring to the border area with Ukraine, some sources say the force is large enough to disrupt civilian rail transport.
The BMP-3 is one of the most heavily armed infantry combat vehicles in service, original version of BMP-3 has a turret fitted with a low-velocity 2A70 100 mm rifled gun, which can fire conventional shells or 9M117 Bastion ATGMs (AT-10 Stabber). 40 100mm-rounds and 8 ATGMs are carried. A 2A72 30 mm dual feed autocannon with 500 (300 HEI and 200 APT) rounds and a rate of fire of 350 to 400 RPM, and a 7.62mm PKT machine gun with 2,000 rounds, all mounted coaxially in the turret. The main gun elevates from −5° to +60°.
There are also two 7.62mm PKT bow machine guns, again with 2,000 rounds each. The BMP-3 is capable of engaging targets out to 5,000–6,000 meters with its ATGM weapon system 9K116-3 “Basnya”. With conventional ammunition, such as the HE-Frag shell 3OF32, the 2A70 gun has a range of 4,000 meters.
The BMP-3 is designed with high maneuverability, strong firepower, can protect soldiers in case nuclear weapons are used and engaged in joint combat with main battle tanks. school. Russia currently owns about 550 BMP-3 and becomes the backbone of the Russian airborne division and army.
