The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has approved distribution of locally upgraded Khorunzhy armored personnel carriers to the armed forces to defend against Russia’s aggression. This comes after a deep modernization effort of the Soviet-made BTR-60s in April. The Bulgarian government donated part of the fleet in February, and confirmed the delivery of about 100 BTR-60s to Kyiv the following month.
Under the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the revamped BTR-60s have been designated “Khorunzhy.” Ukraine’s defense agency noted that the armored vehicle has improved features compared to its base system, with a larger fuel tank, engine, and enhanced ballistic protection. Khorunzhy’s landing capability was upgraded, and it is fitted with new surveillance cameras, modern electronics, and an air conditioning system. The vehicle can carry a 14.5-millimeter machine gun and a 30×113-millimeter cannon in various configurations.
The original BTR-60 was produced from 1960 to 1976 under the Soviet Union’s Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod and from the 1970s to early 1990s by Romania’s state-owned defense company. Approximately 25,000 BTR-60s have been operational since its debut, with multiple nations in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East as users.
