A Ukrainian Defence Forces drone successfully destroyed a Russian assault bus in the Kursk region in a remarkable strike captured on video. The footage, released by volunteer and blogger Serhii Sternenko, shows the complete obliteration of the vehicle, a KAvZ-39765 bus, during a targeted operation against Russian military forces.
The destroyed bus was reportedly used to transport Russian military personnel, although it is unclear whether it was directly involved in assault operations. Russian forces have been seen using such buses on the front lines before. The KAvZ-39765 model, once a civilian transport vehicle, has been repurposed for military uses in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
Back in October 2024, agricultural workers from the Irkutsk region had sent a KAvZ bus to support Russian troops. Russian media even documented this contribution, noting that the bus had been specially adapted for combat purposes. It is notable that these buses have not been produced since 2008 when Russia ceased production of bonneted buses, but old models continue to be restored for military deployment.
The Russian army, facing severe losses of armoured vehicles, increasingly relies on civilian vehicles modified for frontline use. These include the UAZ Bukhanka off road van, as well as ordinary civilian cars fitted with crude anti-drone protections. Despite these efforts, such modifications have proven largely ineffective.
During a recent battle near the settlement of Bahatyr, the Ukrainian Khortytsia operational strategic group repelled a Russian motorised assault that included 10 civilian vehicles rigged with anti-drone ‘grills’. Ukrainian forces destroyed 9 of the 10 vehicles.
Russia’s heavy losses in armoured equipment have forced their forces into increasingly desperate measures, relying on outdated and poorly protected vehicles. Each failed attempt further showcases the resilience and strength of the Ukrainian defenders, while exposing the growing weakness of Russian forces on the front lines.
