The Russian army has likely lost almost all of its BMO-T flamethrower combat vehicles during the full-scale war against Ukraine. It is one of the rarest and most heavily protected vehicles in the Russian army, writes military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko.
The reality of the front without illusions
It once again confirms that even the most protected Russian equipment cannot withstand modern drone warfare and precision weapons.
The BMO-T was used to transport flamethrower units, among the most dangerous for defensive operations and urban combat. According to available information, as of today, Russia may have only one such vehicle left in service, or none at all, Kovalenko explains.
The end of a rare class
In terms of armor protection, the BMO-T surpasses most other Russian combat vehicles and has virtually no analogues except the BMPT “Terminator-2.” Both vehicles are based on the T-72 tank chassis, but their protection has been significantly improved, even better than that of the T-90M “Proryv.”
During the full-scale war in Ukraine, according to verified data, at least three BMO-T vehicles were destroyed, and one was captured by Ukrainian forces.
The last confirmed sighting of a captured BMO-T dates to July 2023. According to unconfirmed information, the number of destroyed vehicles may reach five, and the number of captured ones, two.
Experts note that the key problem of the BMO-T for the Russian army was its high cost, estimated at $400,000–500,000 per unit.
For this reason, Russia’s Ministry of Defense did not place new production orders for these vehicles, despite their high survivability and crew protection.
The absence of new contracts and battlefield losses give grounds to assume that the BMO-T has effectively disappeared as a combat vehicle type in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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Frequently asked questions
The BMO-T is a heavily armored vehicle built on the T-72 tank chassis, specifically designed to transport specialized flamethrower units. It is used primarily for high-risk missions like urban combat and defensive operations where standard armored personnel carriers lack sufficient protection.
According to military experts, Russia has likely lost almost its entire fleet of BMO-T vehicles during the war. Current estimates suggest there may be only one vehicle remaining in service, or it may have disappeared from the Russian arsenal entirely.
The BMO-T is rare because it was produced in very limited numbers due to its high cost, estimated at $400,000–$500,000 per unit. Its specialized role and the lack of new production contracts mean that once these vehicles are destroyed on the battlefield, they cannot be easily or quickly replaced.
The vehicle features significantly enhanced armor that surpasses most other Russian combat vehicles, including the advanced T-90M. Its level of protection is virtually unrivaled in the Russian army, with the exception of the BMPT "Terminator-2," making its loss a significant blow to Russia's "elite" equipment reserves.
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